CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Feb 9 (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki promised to step up the fight against crime, improve AIDS programmes and ease poverty in his annual state of the nation speech on Friday.

Mbeki, who has come under mounting pressure to tackle rampant crime, said he would boost the police force to over 180,000 within three years and improve intelligence work.

In a nationally televised speech to parliament also carried on the government website, he said the government was committed to expanding programmes to fight HIV and AIDS.

"We shall ensure that the partnerships built over the years are strengthened and that our improved national comprehensive strategy against AIDS and sexually transmitted infections is finalised as soon as possible," said Mbeki, who has been accused of responding too slowly to South Africa's AIDS crisis.

The statement by Mbeki on AIDS, which affects about five million South Africans, appeared to be one of the most comprehensive comments he has made on the disease.

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