Afghanistan: Voting Day

According to the western media, millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats and voted Thursday in the country’s second-ever presidential elections. There were reports of scattered violence, and turnout appeared to be relatively low in the capital and in southern provinces with a strong Taliban presence, but Afghan and foreign officials said the disaster they feared had been averted. Afghan bloggers share their experiences and feelings on this historic day.

HeratZamin shares on his photoblog several photos of the election, including some of security forces and voters.

Mohammad Zaher Nazari writes [fa]:

I voted in Kahmard district in Central Afghanistan. . . I visted five voting centers, election seems to be conducted in a normal way and I did not see any violation that some candidates pretend but people were not present. . . I asked the reason and one answered people who [got elected] went to kabul and did not use the funds for district and stole it should be made accountable.

Nazari adds that official estimates put the turnout in Kahmard at 2,000, but that the actual number was more like 700 (it isn't clear from the post whether this is Nazari's estimate or information from another source).

Ejtema says [fa]:

yesterday we voted in Afghanistan, more people voted in the north of country than the south part of Afghanistan. Several people and a few soldiers were killed by Taliban insurgents.

FezaiIbrahimi, a candidate for the Afghanistan parliament, writes [fa]:

fortunately the election was conducted with relative calm. . . the amazing thing was that old men and women came to vote and their enthusiasm even was more important that young people.

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