Afghan and international forces laid a security ring around Kabul yesterday as dignitaries traveled from around the world for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president.

　　In their biggest operation since the October election, which Karzai won in a landslide, police and troops cordoned off the route from the city's battle-scarred airport to the presidential palace, where the US-backed leader was to be sworn in today.

　　Trucks and cars with license plates from beyond Kabul were turned away at the city limits. NATO armored vehicles mounted extra patrols, and American helicopters scoured the mountains that encircle the capital.

　　"We are very aware that this is yet another opportunity for insurgent activity to take place while the international focus is again on Afghanistan," NATO spokesman Ken MacKillop said.

　　Karzai's installation will crown a three-year drive to stabilize Afghanistan since a US bombing campaign drove out the former ruling Taliban for harboring al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

　　(The Associated Press)