OTTAWA (AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on his re-election Monday, urging his new government to focus on "security" and "good governance."

"We congratulate President Karzai on his victory and look forward to him quickly forming a national government that will work for the benefit of all Afghans," Harper said.

"While these Afghan-led elections were not without challenges, it is important to consider how far the Afghan electoral process has come since the fall of the Taliban. Afghans mobilized in the millions to organize, campaign and vote.

"Looking ahead, I urge the new government of Afghanistan to place an emphasis on security and good governance. This must be done by establishing strong, democratic and accountable national institutions that are committed to delivering basic services and strengthening efforts to combat corruption."

Karzai's re-election followed intense diplomatic pressure and two months of political chaos in a war-torn nation where 100,000 NATO and US troops are battling an increasingly virulent Taliban insurgency.

Canada has 2,800 troops deployed in Afghanistan.