Donor countries led by the US yesterday pledged more than $20bn to help re- build Afghanistan despite stepping up their criticism of corruption in the administration.

At a Paris conference attended by 68 governments and 12 international organisations, Laura Bush, wife of President George W. Bush, said the US would give $10.2bn (€6.6bn, £5.2bn) over five years to promote reconstruction and improve security in the war-hit country.