Mechanism reached for release of Taliban inmates: Ghani

KABUL, Afghanistan

A mechanism for the release of Taliban prisoners has been reached and a presidential decree would be issued in this regard on Tuesday, the country’s president said on Monday.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s remarks came after he took an oath as president for another five-year term.

During the inauguration ceremony, loud explosions and gunfire were heard. Ghani said such explosions and gunfire “cannot deter him from serving the nation”.

At a distance of few meters, his electoral rival Abdullah Abdullah also held a parallel oath-taking ceremony, rejecting results of September elections.