Ghani wins Afghan presidential election, signs deal with rival

Former finance minister Ashraf Ghani was declared Afghanistan's next president today, hours after signing a power-sharing deal with his rival Abdullah Abdullah that ended a prolonged standoff over the disputed result.
Allegations of massive fraud in the June 14 vote sparked political crisis as both candidates claimed victory, paralysing the country at a key moment with US-led troops winding down their 13-year war against the Taliban.
When the long-awaited "unity government" deal was finally signed, Ghani embraced Abdullah briefly at a low-key ceremony in the presidential palace that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Abdullah will now nominate his choice for the new post of "chief executive officer" (CEO), which will be similar to prime minister -- setting up a tricky balance of power as Afghanistan enters a new era.

Neither candidate spoke at the palace ceremony, and it remained uncertain when they would address the nation or when the unity agreement would be officially published.
"The Independent Election Commission declares Dr Ashraf Ghani as the president, and thus announces the end of election process," commission chief Ahmad Yousaf Nuristani later told reporters.

"During the election process fraud was committed from all sides...That has concerned people."
Nuristani gave no winning margin, turnout figure, or the number of fraudulent ballot papers thrown out in an intensive UN-supervised audit that checked every individual vote.
Ghani was widely acknowledged to be on the brink of the presidency after coming well ahead in preliminary results before the audit began.

Under the constitution the president wields almost total control, and the new government structure will face a major test as the security and economic outlook worsens.
"I'm happy that our brothers Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah struck an Afghani deal for the sake of goodness and prosperity of the country," outgoing President Hamid Karzai said in a short speech after the palace signing.
"I hope with their efforts this country gets long-lasting peace."
The vote count has been plagued by setbacks amid allegations of massive fraud, emboldening the Taliban insurgents and further weakening the aid-dependent economy.