Karzai calls Iran payments to Afghanistan 'normal'

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has acknowledged that his office has received cash from Iran, but insists it was part of a "transparent" process.

Mr Karzai was responding to a report in the New York Times that Tehran had been passing bags stuffed full of cash to Mr Karzai's aides.

Speaking at a news conference, he said many countries had given money to Afghanistan in this way, including the US and the money was not for an individual but to help run the president's office.