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

KABUL, March 9: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday but his main rival for the top job refused to recognize the inauguration, holding his own swearing-in ceremony as a rival president.
FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, looks on during a joint news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in Kabul, Afghanistan February 29, 2020.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
By Reuters

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


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


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

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