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KABUL. — Afghan presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai signed an agreement yesterday on the formation of national unity government to end the months-long election deadlock.
The agreement was signed in the wake of days of extensive talks between the two candidates with mediations of social figures, former Mujahideen leaders and ranking officials in the presence of the outgoing President Hamid Karzai in the Presidential Palace over the past month.

Welcoming the agreement, outgoing president Karzai in his short speech broadcast live by the national television wished success for the next government.
The outgoing president also said he is ready to consult for the next government if needed in running government affairs.

Under the agreement, one of the candidates is to become the president and the other, or one of his aides is to become the chief executive, a post equal to that of prime minister in the national unity government, which is to assume office in a few days.

Afghanistan’s third presidential election since the fall of Taliban regime was held on April 5.
But since none of the eight candidates secured more than 50 percent of the votes, a run-off was conducted between frontrunners Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani on June 14.

The signing of the agreement has paved the way for Afghanistan’s election commission to announce the election results, possibly later yesterday or today.
Meantime, the United States of America, Britain and the United Nations, according to media reports have welcomed the deal.

The White House, according media reports in a statement, has termed the deal as an end to Afghan election deadlock and vowed to support the next Afghan national unity government. — Xinhua.