Celebrations muted as Afghan leader takes office

Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank economist, was officially declared the new president of Afghanistan yesterday, after three months of political deadlock was resolved through a new and untested power-sharing arrangement with his arch-rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

The agreement that Mr Ghani signed with Mr Abdullah, his adversary in presidential elections in June, has left the country suspended in acrimony and political paralysis. Under the deal, Mr Ghani will run the cabinet and be in charge of strategy, while Mr Abdullah will be able to appoint a “chief executive” in charge of daily duties.

Neither man appeared overjoyed. When the election results were finally declared, the electoral commission chief, Ahmad Yousaf Nuristani, did not refer to a winner or loser, nor did he announce the final voting figures. “The independent election commission declares Dr Ashraf Ghani as the president, and thus announces the end of the election process,” he told reporters. “During the election process, fraud was committed from all sides . . . that has concerned people.”

Under pressure

The new leadership, under pressure to agree a security deal with the US to pave the way for the removal of most foreign troops, has a formidable task ahead. It also has to pick up the business of day-to-day government, which has atrophied over the past six months of the bitterly contested electoral process.

"I'm happy that our brothers Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah struck an Afghani deal for the sake of goodness and prosperity of the country," outgoing president Hamid Karzai said after a signing ceremony. "I hope, with their efforts, this country gets long-lasting peace."

Mr Ghani, who campaigned on the platform of reform, was popular among urban youth. After the first round in March, he sought to extend his appeal to the Pashtun heartland of the south and east, which ultimately contributed to his victory. But Mr Abdullah interpreted the marked increase in turnout in Pashtun areas as proof of fraud, and demanded that the votes be disqualified.

Election audit

To resolve the dispute, the UN held an “audit” of all eight million votes, but the results were kept under wraps for weeks until yesterday’s agreement. A US official said details had not been released due to fears they would spark protests. He said there were plans to announce them in due course.

It remains unclear how the deal will work, and how the notion of an Afghan "chief executive" will go down with the provincial views of the country's hinterland. Guardian Service