Afghan Presidential Election Under Way
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Millions of Afghans started voting to choose a new leader in an election that could lead to the first democratic transfer of power in the nation's 5,000 year history.
After months of manoeuvring, jockeying, tribal meetings and campaigning, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmai Rassoul have emerged as the frontrunners in Saturday's polls, coming from a field of eight candidates that includes everyone from former mujahedeen commanders to Western-educated technocrats.
All three men command a similar number of supporters and the race is seen as wide open with voters, analysts and longtime observers uncertain of the outcome – a rarity in a country where much in politics has traditionally been decided by backroom deals or through convoluted patronage networks.
Outgoing President Hamid Karzai has cast his vote early Saturday amid tight security across the country.
Al Jazeera's D. Parvaz, reporting from Kabul, said two people including a police chief in Wardak province, were arrested for allegedly stuffing five ballot boxes in the district of Saeedabad.
Voting was also reportedly disrupted in three polling stations in Logar province, and seven polling stations in Khost province, where two people have been reportedly injured.
Adding to the uncertainty is a vow from the Taliban, intent on toppling the government, to disrupt Saturday's poll.
The group has followed through on that threat, carrying out several attacks in the capital Kabul and across the country that have left many dead and created an atmosphere of insecurity - even with 352,000 troops on duty to provide security for about 12 million voters and 20,752 polling stations. Another 748 polling stations have been closed because Afghan security forces can not secure them, according to the IEC.
On the eve of the vote, two AP journalists were shot as they reported on the preparations. Anja Niedringhaus, a 48-year-old German photographer, was killed and journalist Kathy Gannon was injured.
