Ghani hails election deal

The lack of an official set of election commission results, following months of reciprocal allegations of fraud, did not seem to perturb Afghanistan's president-elect, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (pictured, left), on Monday in Kabul.

"It is a big victory for the Afghan nation that, for the first time in our bright history, power is transferred from one elected president to another president based on the nation's votes," said Ghani, formerly a finance minister in Kabul.

Under the sudden agreement, Ghani's election rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, will operate as "chief executive" - a newly created role akin to a prime minister's post.

"Foreigners said it was not possible for Afghans to peacefully transfer power," Ghani said. "Now you see it has happened after the people of Afghanistan waited very patiently for six months for the results." The first round of the presidential election took place in April. The democratic credentials of the deal were questioned domestically.

The appointment of a new president was crucial, among other things, to arrange a continued ISAF troop presence beyond the end of the NATO-led force's combat mandate at the end of the year. A president's signature was required on terms for the remaining soldiers, for example guaranteeing against prosecution in Afghan courts. Former President Hamid Karzai, asked by the US to sign this agreement, had said that his successor should authorize the continued ISAF mission.

Taliban rejects "sham" deal

On Monday, Taliban militants in Afghanistan rejected the power-sharing government, saying that the US was behind the sudden agreement.

"Installing Ashraf Ghani and forming a bogus administration will never be acceptable to the Afghans," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an emailed statement to journalists. "The Americans must understand that our soil and land belong to us and all decisions and agreements are made by Afghans, not by the US foreign secretary or ambassador."

The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan for five years until 2001 before being toppled by the US-led invasion following the September 11 attacks, announced that it would continue its insurgency in Afghanistan "until we free our nation from occupation and until we pave the way for a pure Islamic government."

As well as forming a functioning government following months of disharmony over the election results, the new regime will also be tasked with dealing with the Taliban insurgency.

"You voted to us so we could bring peace and stability. Stability in Aghanistan is more important to us than anything," Ghani said on Monday. "The goal of the national unity government is peace. We are tired of blood."

msh/mkg (AFP, dpa, Reuters)