Dueling Afghan leaders sworn in as president

KABUL－Afghanistan's rival leaders were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday, throwing plans for negotiations with the Taliban into chaos and creating a dilemma for the United States as it figures out how to move its peace deal with the Taliban forward.

Hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the swearing-in ceremonies for Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, when two blasts were heard, prompting some to flee.

"I have no bulletproof vest on, only my shirt, but I will stay even if I have to sacrifice my head," Ghani told the remaining crowd, as sirens sounded overhead.

Polls were held in September but incumbent Ashraf Ghani was only declared to have won a second term last month after repeated delays and accusations of voter fraud, sparking a furious response by former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who vowed to form his own parallel government.

Washington had earlier warned that the bickering posed a risk to the US withdrawal deal, which requires the Taliban to hold talks with Kabul.

Widening divisions among Afghan politicians would leave the insurgents with the upper hand in those negotiations, and their game of thrones has left many Afghans despairing for their country's future, worried that Kabul's politicians will be no match for the Taliban in any peace talks.

"It is impossible to have two presidents in one country," said Ahmad Jawed, 22, who urged the men "to put their personal interests aside and only think of their country instead of fighting for power".

"Instead of holding oath-taking ceremonies they should talk to each other to find a solution," he said.

Afghans have shown little enthusiasm for Abdullah, Ghani or the election process in general. Most of them abstained in last year's lackluster poll in which candidates pitched.

Unemployment is high while violence has continued unabated, except for a week-long partial truce before the US-Taliban deal.

In the deadliest attack to hit Afghanistan in weeks, Islamic State group gunmen shot dead 32 people and wounded dozens of others at a rally in Kabul on Friday commemorating a politician from the Hazara ethnic group.

According to the agreement signed in Qatar, foreign troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months, in return for various security commitments from the Taliban and a pledge to hold talks with Kabul.

Agencies via Xinhua