KABUL — Afghan officials announced a new anti-corruption unit and major crime fighting force Monday amid stiff international pressure to clean up the government following a fraud-tainted presidential election.

The Afghan government has been dogged by corruption for years and this is the third formal launch of a unit promising to rein in rampant graft and bribery. But Afghan government officials told reporters this attempt has a better chance because of a real desire to succeed and strong international backing. This one also comes amid threats from world leaders who are hedging their commitments of aid and troops on the ability of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to battle corruption.

U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry both praised the plan and called for follow-through.

"It requires action. Words are cheap. Deeds are required," he told reporters and others gathered at the news conference held at a hotel in Kabul.

"We share a vision of Afghanistan where justice is available to all and the institutions of government and society serve the wider interests of the people, not the narrow interests of the powerful," Eikenberry said.

"Achieving this vision is essential for this country to become a strong and prosperous Islamic state, and it's not a vision that can be achieved by force alone," said Eikenberry, who has questioned the wisdom of adding U.S. forces when the Afghan political situation is unstable and uncertain.

Both American and British officials have said they will consider the Afghan government's commitment to reform in deciding how many more troops to send to fight the resurgent Taliban. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday that the U.S. will not provide any civilian aid to Afghanistan without a way to hold ministries accountable for how funds are used.

British Ambassador Mark Sedwill said corruption has created a "crisis of confidence" about the government among the Afghan people. He stressed the fight against corruption was not an issue between Afghanistan and the international community, but between the Afghan government and the people.

Afghan officials emphasized the task force was not imposed on the government by the international community — the Karzai government set it up months ago with the help of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Britain's Serious Organized Crime Agency and Interpol.

"Corruption is the cancer that is destroying the lives of the people," said Justice Minister Mohammad Sarwar Danish.

Interior Minister Hanif Atmar acknowledged accusations of bribery among police, but said there also were many Afghan police officers who daily risk their lives to enforce order.