Rival Afghan Leaders Sign Power-Sharing Deal

A deal to create a power-sharing government in Afghanistan has been signed by the rival presidential candidates after months of wrangling following a disputed election.

Former finance minister Ashraf Ghani, who will become president under the deal reached on Saturday night, embraced rival Abdullah Abdullah, who takes the new role of chief executive, after they signed the agreement in a ceremony broadcast live on television.

The deal, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, was swiftly welcomed by Washington.

"This agreement marks an important opportunity for unity and increased stability in Afghanistan," said a statement issued by the White House.

"We continue to call on all Afghans - including political, religious, and civil society leaders - to support this agreement and to come together in calling for co-operation and calm."

The deal ends three months of political wrangling

A Downing Street spokesman welcomed the deal, adding: "This will bring to an end a period of uncertainty and enable a peaceful and democratic transfer of power.

"The UK remains committed to supporting Afghanistan. We look forward to working with the new Government to help the Afghan people realise the prosperous and peaceful future they deserve."

With the departure of foreign troops, the new administration faces huge challenges in fighting an emboldened Taliban-led insurgency and paying its bills amid plummeting tax revenue.

It will also face significant difficulty in improving the lives of ordinary Afghans as aid flows fall and as contracts with the Nato-led coalition dry up.

The signing ceremony took place at the presidential palace which is still occupied by outgoing leader Hamid Karzai, who had been in power since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.

US Secretary of State John Kerry brokered the deal

Mr Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said Mr Ghani is expected to be sworn in as president within a week.

He said one of Mr Ghani's first acts would be to sign a long-delayed bilateral security agreement with the US to allow a small force of foreign troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014.

The uncertainty surrounding the political transition has seen more Taliban-led attacks across Afghanistan, just as the newly trained Afghan security forces prepare to lead the fight against the militants on their own after foreign troops withdraw.

Teams from the Ghani and Abdullah camps met late into Saturday night to try to finalise the power-sharing deal before the planned release of results of a UN-monitored audit of all eight million ballots cast in the June 14 run-off.

No time has been set for the announcement.

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