Afghanistan's New President Ahmadzai Inaugurates

The United Nations (UN) congratulated Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on his inauguration as the new president of Afghanistan and reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with the national unity government.

As the inauguration unfolded in the heavily guarded presidential palace, two bomb attacks took place on the road connecting the country's main airport with the palace. One roadside bomb did not result in any deaths or injuries, but a second attack about a half mile from the airport by a suicide bomber killed six or seven people.

A bigger attack took place in the eastern Paktia province, where a car bomb exploded near a government compound as gunmen attacked, sparking a battle that killed seven Taliban militants. Four police officers and two civilians also were killed.

The violence and insecurity remained one of the top concerns of Afghans watching the inauguration.

Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Ján Kubiš.Kubiš, who attended the inauguration today (29 Sept) along with Deputy Special Representative Nicholas Haysom, noted that the many challenges facing the country can only be overcome through unity and statesmanship.

The inauguration follows a political deadlock that set in after the 14 June presidential run-off.

A UN-supervised, Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC)-run audit followed with more than 22,000 ballot boxes reviewed.

SHOTLIST:
29 SEPTEMBER 2014, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

Inauguration
New president and his deputies
New president and new CEO
Various, still images of SRSG and others

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