Ashraf Ghani sworn in as Afghan president; rival holds parallel inauguration ceremony

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani speaks during his inauguration as president in Kabul on March 9, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS

KABUL (REUTERS) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday (March 9) but his main rival for the top job refused to recognise the inauguration, holding his own swearing-in ceremony as a rival president.

Television footage showed Mr Ghani taking an oath at the Presidential palace in Kabul at a ceremony attended by a number of foreign diplomats, including US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.

Presidential candidate and rival in a disputed election Abdullah Abdullah held his own ceremony at a similar time, suggesting that talks between the two camps and Mr Khalilzad aimed at brokering an agreement had not been successful.

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