Ghani is new president of Afghanistan, official says --- Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is the new president of Afghanistan, and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, is CEO, Afghanistan Independent Elections Commission chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nooristani announced in a news conference in Kabul Sunday. -- Nooristani didn't disclose the percentage of their votes from the June runoff election. He also didn't take any questions from journalists. -- Ghani and Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement earlier Sunday after months of infighting over allegations of voting fraud and manipulation. -- The U.S. State Department congratulated both candidates, as well as the people of Afghanistan "who courageously went to the polls to vote on April 5 and again on June 14, defying Taliban threats to exercise their right to vote and to take their part in advancing democracy in Afghanistan," according to a statement. -- The statement also recognized incumbent President Hamid Karzai for 13 years of "strong leadership." -- The lengthy dispute between Ghani and Abdullah had put off the selection of a successor to Karzai and raised fears of increased instability in the fragile, war-torn country. -- But the two rivals embraced after signing a deal for a national unity government in a televised ceremony in the capital, Kabul, on Sunday. -- Under the agreement, Ghani will create by decree the position of chief executive officer for the runner-up. The CEO role will have prime ministerial functions until the constitution can be amended to create a permanent position of prime minister. -- The deal also calls for the two candidates' teams to share senior government positions equally between them. - Read More, http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/21/world/asia/afghanistan-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t2