KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban and other extremist groups Friday to lay down their weapons and participate in rebuilding the battered country, as part of reconciliation efforts he has said will be his main objective during his second term.

Karzai's appeal, made in a message marking the major Muslim holidayof Eid, came two days after the reclusive Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, issued a statement ruling out talks with the president and calling onAfghans to break off relations with his "stooge" administration.

The hard-line militia has long refused to negotiate with Karzai's government or join what it considers a puppet administration.

"From the Taliban, from Hezb-e-Islami and all our other brothers who stand armed against their country, I hope that for the peace, stability and development of their country, they come back to their homeland, their families," Karzai said. Hezb-e-Islami is a militant Islamic faction led by warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Asked about Omar's message, which was posted on the Web site used by the Taliban, Karzai said he would not stop appealing to the group to help rebuild the country.

"We will continue to invite them until peace and stability come to this country. And this is an initiative of the Afghan people, and I wish Mullah Muhammad Omar ... and all other Taliban recognize this necessity and join with us and participate in the reconstruction of their country," Karzai said.

The president also reiterated a call to his main rival during the fraud-marred presidential election, Abdullah Abdullah, to join in helping the country — although he stopped short of inviting him into the government.

Abdullah, who served for several years as foreign minister in Karzai's government, pulled out of an election runoff scheduled for earlier this month, saying it was impossible to guarantee a free and fair vote.

"I hope that all the candidates, Dr. Abdullah and all our other brothers, come and join hands in building their country ... to be able to move our country to such a stage where Afghanistan will be able to stand on its own feet," Karzai said.

His appeal echoed comments in his inauguration speech last week, when he also reached out to Abdullah.

But speaking after the inauguration speech, Abdullah said Karzai's administration had created many problems for the country.

"His record and policies I consider as the basic and fundamental reason for the failures of the international community and Afghanistan together," Abdullah told the AP. "So for me it's those agendas for change which are important rather than my having posts in the Cabinet, that has never been my agenda."