Afghanistan swears in first new president Ashraf Ghani

 

Afghanistan inaugurated its first new president in a decade on Monday, swearing in technocrat Ashraf Ghani to head a power-sharing government just as the withdrawal of most foreign troops presents a crucial test.

The first democratic handover of power in Afghan history has been far from smooth.
Illustrating the problems facing the new president, a suicide bomber killed seven people at a security checkpoint near Kabul airport just before Ghani was sworn in, a government official said. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Later, ending months of uncertainty over the future US role in Afghanistan, the US embassy announced Ghani's representative would sign a security agreement with the United States allowing a small continent of troops to remain.

In his inaugural speech, Ghani appealed to the Taliban and other militants to join peace talks and put an end to more than a decade of violence. Thousands of Afghans are killed each year in the insurgency.
"Security is a main demand of our people, and we are tired of this war," Ghani said. "I am calling on the Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami to prepare for political negotiations."
Hezb-i-Islami is an Islamist faction loosely allied with the Taliban.
Ghani also vowed to crack down on rampant corruption and called for cooperation within the coalition government.

credit: globalpost.com

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