Reporters barred from Afghan leader's inauguration

"Due to capacity and security reasons we cannot invite the media into the palace," palace spokesman Siamak Herawi said on Tuesday.

Foreign dignitaries are expected to include senior officials from Western countries with troops fighting in Afghanistan, although most have yet to announce publicly who will attend.

The ceremony will be attended by 800 guests, including 300 foreigners, Herawi said. Journalists will be confined to a media centre at the headquarters of Afghan state television.

Security is always extremely tight for important events in Kabul. Last year, Karzai and other senior officials survived an assassination attempt when gunmen fired rockets at a military parade in the capital, killing three civilians.