TOKYO - Afghanistan's new interim leader, Hamid Karzai, is pleased with his fame as a fashion icon.
But he hopes he can be a lot more.

The soft-spoken Pushtun tribal leader, who took office as president last month after the Taliban were toppled in a US-led war, is already well-known for the green and purple striped Uzbek robe he often wears, along with a lambskin cap.

"We have achieved things, we are hoping to achieve more," Karzai (44), told a reception for dignitaries in Tokyo ahead of a two-day conference where donors will pledge billion's of dollars to rebuild a country devastated by two decades of war and strife.

"But one thing I was surprised about yesterday - which I'm so glad about - wearing the Afghan traditional 'chapan' has become a fashion.

I believe Gucci said something about it - that's one of the achievements," said the soft-spoken aristocrat.
"Let's add more to it," he said.

European media reported that Tom Ford, the creative director of Gucci, had said at a recent show in Milan that Karzai was "the most chic man in the world." - Nampa-Reuters