Karzai sworn in for 2nd term

KABUL(PAN): As Afghanistan faces a whole host of challenges and pressure from the global fraternity to deal with them, President Hamid Karzai Thursday took oath of office for a second term at the Presidential Palace here on Thursday.

Karzai was administered oath by Supreme Court Chief Justice Prof. Abdul Salam Azimi at a ceremony attended by approximately 800 VIPs including foreign dignitaries and Afghan legislators.

The ceremony began with recitation from the Holy Quran just before noon. Afghanistan's national anthem was played before the president took oath from the top judge. After being sworn in, Karzai administered oath to Vice-Presidents Qasim Fahim and Karim Khalili.

Hours earlier, Karzai had meetings with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Japanese prime minister's special envoy to Afghanistan Teti sero Phocopoma.

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