Kabul - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Kabul on Wednesday, a day ahead of the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai inauguration for a second term, a US embassy official said.

Karzai was declared winner of Afghanistan's fraud-marred election after his main challenger, Abdullah Abdullah dropped out of a run-off scheduled for November 7.

The official, who did not want to be named, said that Clinton was in Afghanistan for the first time since taking office as secretary of state to take part in the ceremony at the heavily fortified presidential palace on Thursday, where Karzai will be sworn in for the second five-year term.

Security has been stepped up drastically ahead of the event for fears of attacks by Taliban militants.

Hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including heads of states and foreign ministers are expected to attend the event. According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, President Ali Asif Zardari is also expected to attend the ceremony. (dpa)