KABUL -- The embattled Afghan president pledged yesterday that there would be no place for corrupt officials in his new administration -- a demand made by the United States and its international partners as they ponder sending more troops to confront the Taliban and shore up his government.

Also yesterday, NATO reported three more coalition soldiers -- one American and two Britons -- died in combat with the Taliban in western and southern areas. The latest losses pushed Britain's combat death toll in the eight-year Afghan war to 201.

NATO forces said they were still searching for two American paratroopers who disappeared Wednesday while trying to recover airdropped supplies that had fallen into a river. Afghan police said the two Americans were swept away by the current and may have drowned.

With casualties mounting, corruption has become a front-burner issue in Afghanistan, with President Barack Obama and other world leaders under pressure from their own constituents to explain why they are sending young soldiers to fight and die in defense of a government riddled with graft, cronyism and fraud.

Mr. Obama is considering a request from the top U.S. and NATO commander to send tens of thousands more U.S. troops to curb the growing Taliban insurgency.

The U.S. Army's chief of staff, Gen. George Casey, said yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he believes more troops are needed in Afghanistan. But Gen. Casey would not say exactly how many more should be sent into the war.

He said more troops would help cut into the Taliban's successes while U.S. forces continue training Afghan security forces.

Mr. Obama is considering several options to increase the number of troops fighting in Afghanistan, including Gen. Stanley McChrystal's preference of about 40,000 additional U.S. forces next year.

Incumbent Afghan President Hamid Karzai was proclaimed the winner last week in a fraud-marred election after his only remaining challenger dropped out ahead of a runoff, saying he did not expect a fair vote.

With his reputation sullied by the messy election, Mr. Karzai gave assurances yesterday that he would rid his government of corrupt officials.

"Individuals who are involved in corruption will have no place in the government," Mr. Karzai said in an interview with the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service. The presidential press office released comments from the interview.

Mr. Karzai also said donor countries share some of the responsibility for rampant corruption because of a poorly structured system to manage projects.

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