Ashraf Ghani sworn in as Afghan president, rival holds parallel inauguration ceremony

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 1, 2020. (REUTERS File Photo)

KABUL, March 9 (Reuters): Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday but his main rival for the top job refused to recognise 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 U.S. Special Envoy 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 and Khalilzad aimed at brokering an agreement had not been successful.