US takes back $100 million from Afghan govt over corruption

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington is taking back $100 million intended for an Afghan energy infrastructure project, citing unacceptably high levels of corruption in the Afghan government.

In the harshly worded statement Thursday, Pompeo said the U.S. will still finish the massive project that involves five power substations and a maze of transmission lines in southern Afghanistan. It just won't be spending the money through Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, blaming the "Afghan government's inability to transparently manage U.S. Government resources."

This follows an earlier statement, also from Pompeo, calling for "credible and transparent presidential election" when Afghans go to the polls Sept. 28.

The 2014 presidential election was marred by allegations of massive fraud, as was last year's parliamentary vote.