Karzai to be sworn-in as first democratically elected Afghan president

Hamid Karzai's inauguration as Afghanistan's first popularly elected President opens a new chapter in the battle to rescue this impoverished country, which became a haven for international terrorism and now risks turning into a narco-state.

Tuesday's inauguration was being held in the capital's war-scarred former royal palace. The 150 foreign guests included US Vice President Dick Cheney, the highest-ranking American official to visit Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Afghanistan's red, black and green flag has been hung from lampposts in downtown Kabul, and officials issued a commemorative blue stamp featuring a triumphant-looking Karzai. The proceedings were to be shown live on national television _ rickety power supplies permitting.