Afghanistan economy grew nearly 14 percent in 2007, new report says

KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan's legal economy grew nearly 14 percent in fiscal year 2007, but the surge was hampered by corruption, insecurity and the lack of electricity, a new report said Wednesday.

The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, an alliance of 94 international aid agencies, said that since 2001, the international community has pledged US$25 billion in help but has delivered only US$15 billion. --- Of that US$15 billion, some 40 percent of it — or US$6 billion — goes back to donor countries in corporate profits and consultant salaries, the ACBAR report said.