Afghans tighten inauguration security

Security has been tight in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as the country is preparing to host the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

Officials say large areas of the capital will be locked down during the ceremony, which will be held in the presidential compound on Monday.

“For the presidential inauguration ceremony …, the Afghan national police forces have taken strong security measures, especially in Kabul,” Sediq Sediqi, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said on Sunday.

“We will do everything to make sure that this happens in a very secure environment.”

Many international leaders and dignitaries have been invited to the ceremony.

Earlier this month, Ghani was named president-elect after he reached a deal to share power with his rival in the June run-off vote Abdullah Abdullah following months of political wrangling.

Based on the deal, Ghani will become president, while Abdullah will take up the new post of “chief executive officer” (CEO), which will be similar to the role of prime minister.

The new Afghan government will succeed that of President Hamid Karzai, who has been in power since Washington and its allies invaded the country.

The United States and its allies attacked Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains in the country, despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.

MSM/MAM/AS