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KABUL, June 4 (Reuters) Britain today pressed donor nations to channel more funds through the Afghan government so that it can set priorities for spending and become more accountable to its people.

Hilary Benn, Britain's Minister for International Development, was visiting Kabul a week after the capital was rocked by the worst anti-American riots since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.

The US military bore the brunt of Afghans anger after one of its trucks killed five people in a road accident. President Hamid Karzai's dwindling popularity was also evident in the unrest, as many Afghans are impatient to see an improvement in living standards that he has so far failed to deliver.

''The only way to help Afghanistan successfully rebuild the country is to support the elected representatives of the Afghan people,'' said Benn, adding that 70 percent of Britain's aid would go directly to the government to spend on education, health care and reconstruction.

''I would urge other donors to give more funding directly to the government of Afghanistan. This ensures that money is spent according to Afghan priorities, in a way that is accountable to the Afghan electorate, and helps build the government's capacity.'' A World Bank report released in January said 75 percent of 3.1 billion dollar of international aid spent in Afghanistan last year was spent outside government channels.

Among the reasons for donor countries reluctance to let the government have more control over funds are concerns over transparency and a perception that Afghanistan's political economy has been allowed to develop around corruption and drug money, analysts say.

Benn also announced an extra 60 million sterling for Afghanistan in 2008/09. His department is currently spending 70 percent of its 102 million sterling ($189 million) budget in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's fledgling parliament on Saturday approved the government's budget for the fiscal year that started on March 21.

The ordinary budget is $831 million, while $1.37 billion was allocated for development projects.

Some 75 percent of the total budget comes from Western donors, many of which have also sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan to help fight the Taliban and al Qaeda remnants.

Britain is currently in command of NATO-led peacekeepers in Afghanistan, where the mission is due to expand its role to cover the insurgency-ridden southern provinces.

REUTERS SK KN1724