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| Afghan presidential contenders sign election deal | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A deal to form a government of national unity in Afghanistan has been signed at a ceremony in Kabul. | |
| The signing - broadcast live on national TV - comes after months of wrangling following presidential elections in April and June. | |
| Under the deal, Ashraf Ghani becomes president while runner-up Abdullah Abdullah nominates a CEO with powers similar to those of prime minister. | |
| The final result of the bitterly contested poll is due to be announced. | |
| Both sides had accused the other of fraud following the election. | |
| Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah signed the agreement at a ceremony inside the presidential palace in the capital, Kabul. They then stood and embraced each other. | |
| The power-sharing deal was finally reached after a comprehensive audit of all eight million votes which began in July. | |
| BBC Afghanistan correspondent David Loyn, who has seen a copy of the final document, says the deal averts potential violence by supporters of Mr Abdullah. | BBC Afghanistan correspondent David Loyn, who has seen a copy of the final document, says the deal averts potential violence by supporters of Mr Abdullah. |
| The agreement says the new CEO will be answerable to Mr Ghani, although he has lost a battle to be sworn in after the announcement of the election result, our correspondent says. | The agreement says the new CEO will be answerable to Mr Ghani, although he has lost a battle to be sworn in after the announcement of the election result, our correspondent says. |
| Analysis: David Loyn, BBC News, Afghanistan | Analysis: David Loyn, BBC News, Afghanistan |
| The creation of the government of national unity will now diminish the importance of the election result. I understand that after the audit the final gap between the two candidates was less than three points - a significant cut from Ashraf Ghani's lead after the first count of 13 points. | The creation of the government of national unity will now diminish the importance of the election result. I understand that after the audit the final gap between the two candidates was less than three points - a significant cut from Ashraf Ghani's lead after the first count of 13 points. |
| A president who has built an international reputation as an incorruptible technocrat is tarnished by the fact that most of the fraud in the election was discovered to be in his votes. | A president who has built an international reputation as an incorruptible technocrat is tarnished by the fact that most of the fraud in the election was discovered to be in his votes. |
| The new Afghan government will have a cabinet of ministers, including the CEO and two deputies, chaired by the president who will take strategic decisions. Day-to-day administration will be carried out by a new Council of Ministers, chaired by the CEO, and including all ministers. | The new Afghan government will have a cabinet of ministers, including the CEO and two deputies, chaired by the president who will take strategic decisions. Day-to-day administration will be carried out by a new Council of Ministers, chaired by the CEO, and including all ministers. |
| One major issue that divided both camps was over appointments. Dr Abdullah won the fight to be able to appoint senior positions on terms of "parity" with Dr Ghani, and "the two teams will be equally represented at the leadership level". | One major issue that divided both camps was over appointments. Dr Abdullah won the fight to be able to appoint senior positions on terms of "parity" with Dr Ghani, and "the two teams will be equally represented at the leadership level". |
| But appointments further down will be "equitably" shared - so there will not be a one-for-one handout of jobs across the country. Dr Ghani is impatient to make major reforms, and has secured the wording he wants on the formation of a "merit-based" mechanism to appoint senior officials. | But appointments further down will be "equitably" shared - so there will not be a one-for-one handout of jobs across the country. Dr Ghani is impatient to make major reforms, and has secured the wording he wants on the formation of a "merit-based" mechanism to appoint senior officials. |
| What the Afghan power-sharing deal means | What the Afghan power-sharing deal means |
| Instead, the two men have signed the national unity agreement before the election result is announced. | |
| The new chief executive - nominated by Mr Abdullah - will be side-by-side with the president when he is inaugurated. | The new chief executive - nominated by Mr Abdullah - will be side-by-side with the president when he is inaugurated. |
| Mr Abdullah will be able to appoint senior positions on terms of "parity" with Mr Ghani. The agreement says "the two teams will be equally represented at the leadership level". | Mr Abdullah will be able to appoint senior positions on terms of "parity" with Mr Ghani. The agreement says "the two teams will be equally represented at the leadership level". |
| However, our correspondent says there will not be a one-for-one handout of jobs further down and that could lead to arguments. | However, our correspondent says there will not be a one-for-one handout of jobs further down and that could lead to arguments. |
| The agreement calls for a spirit of partnership. But after a bitter election campaign and months of wrangling, the stability of this government cannot be guaranteed, he adds. | The agreement calls for a spirit of partnership. But after a bitter election campaign and months of wrangling, the stability of this government cannot be guaranteed, he adds. |
| Earlier, Mr Abdullah told the BBC that he accepted Mr Ghani should be leader. | Earlier, Mr Abdullah told the BBC that he accepted Mr Ghani should be leader. |
| A spokesman for Mr Ghani said that there was no longer any dispute between the two sides. | A spokesman for Mr Ghani said that there was no longer any dispute between the two sides. |
| "Both camps have agreed 100% on everything and we'll sign the deal tomorrow," Faizullah Zaki told Reuters on Saturday. | "Both camps have agreed 100% on everything and we'll sign the deal tomorrow," Faizullah Zaki told Reuters on Saturday. |
| The audit of ballots was part of a deal brokered in July by US Secretary of State John Kerry to try to avert a descent into violence. | The audit of ballots was part of a deal brokered in July by US Secretary of State John Kerry to try to avert a descent into violence. |
| Both candidates pledged to accept the audit results and form a unity government. | Both candidates pledged to accept the audit results and form a unity government. |
| One of the new president's first tasks is widely expected to be signing a bilateral security agreement with the US. | One of the new president's first tasks is widely expected to be signing a bilateral security agreement with the US. |
| The deal will allow a small force of soldiers to remain beyond 2014 to train Afghan security forces. | The deal will allow a small force of soldiers to remain beyond 2014 to train Afghan security forces. |
| Incumbent President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign the security agreement, which is linked to the continuation of aid needed to pay Afghan civil servants, teachers and soldiers. | Incumbent President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign the security agreement, which is linked to the continuation of aid needed to pay Afghan civil servants, teachers and soldiers. |
| Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah have both promised to sign the agreement. | Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah have both promised to sign the agreement. |