Iran Press/Asia: Hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex in Kabul on Monday to watch the swearing-in ceremonies. Meanwhile, two blasts were reported in Kabul on Monday, just as the presidential inauguration ceremonies got underway.
It was also reported that multiple shootings were heard during the swearing-in ceremonies in the presidential palace.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn-in for a second term on Monday 9 March but his main rival for the top job, Abdullah Abdullah, refused to recognize the inauguration, holding his own swearing-in ceremony as a rival president.
Television footage showed Ghani taking an oath at the Presidential palace in Kabul at a ceremony attended by a number of foreign diplomats, including US Special Envoy to Afghanistan 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 aimed at brokering an agreement had not been successful.
Unofficial sources also announced 5 rockets landed inside the Presidential Palace in Kabul whilst Ashraf Ghani's inauguration ceremony was underway.
Meanwhile, a mechanism has been agreed upon for the release of Taliban prisoners, and a presidential decree is expected to be issued in this regard on Tuesday 10 March, according to Afghanistan's presidential office.
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