Rivals Ghani and Abdullah both sworn in as president of Afghanistan

The Afghan presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah were both sworn in as the new president of Afghanistan on Monday, during two separate ceremonies.

Ghani was named the winner of the September presidential election in mid-February, but Abdullah did not agree with that result and proclaimed himself the winner.

During the ceremonies, two explosions were heard in the Afghan capital Kabul. “I don’t have a bulletproof vest, just my shirt,” Ghani said during his speech, while the alarm was heard in the presidential palace. “I would stay even if I had to sacrifice myself.”

Ten days ago, the United States and the Taliban Muslim terrorists reached an agreement after a week of less violence. The agreement on Saturday prepared the way for peace talks between Afghans, who should start in Oslo on Tuesday.