ISAS Briefs

Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan’s president on 19 November 2009 after being ratified as the winner in the elections held on 20 August 2009. The long delay in being sworn in was caused by the successful challenge launched by Dr Abdullah Abdullah to the election results. Abdullah had received the second highest votes in the contested elections. A run-off election was ordered for 7 November 2009 but was cancelled when Abdullah withdrew from the contest, clearing the way for the swearing-in ceremony.