Reconstruction of ruined palace begins in Afghan capital

Cameramen film before the inauguration of the reconstruction project to restore the ruins of historic Darul Aman palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan May 30, 2016. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani dedicated an ambitious reconstruction project on Monday to restore the ruins of historic Darul Aman palace, an initiative aimed at signalling a new future for the war-torn country.

Much of Kabul has been repaired since devastating civil wars, but the palace has gathered dust atop a hill on the outskirts of the capital, a scarred memorial to the country's shattered past.