New Afghan president sworn in after tumult

Afghanistan’s new president, Ashraf Ghani, was sworn in on Monday, according to multiple reports, capping a tumultuous election dispute that ended with a deal brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry. 

Ghani’s opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, became chief executive as part of the power-sharing agreement that was a key to the deal. The disputed election results were also audited. 

{mosads}Ghani is expected to sign a Status of Forces Agreement allowing U.S. and other NATO troops to remain in the country after the end of the year. 

Reuters reported last week that Ghani is expected to sign the agreement within 24 hours of being sworn in. It will allow about 10,000 American troops to remain in the country after the end of the year.

Outgoing President Hamid Karzai had refused to sign the agreement.

In Iraq, the absence of an agreement and the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011 has come under scrutiny since the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), with many lawmakers arguing that President Obama should have tried harder for a deal to keep troops there.

The Associated Press reported that Abdullah pledged his commitment to the unity government, and that Ghani professed that the country is “tired of war.”