Millions of Afghans turnout despite threats from Taliban

Kabul, 20 Aug 2009. - Millions of Afghans exercised their right to vote today to choose a new president on a day that left fifty dead victims of Taliban violence, which had a magnitude less than expected by the authorities.
Schools closed one hour later than scheduled, the hours 16.00 local (11.30 GMT) - for more people to exercise their right to vote and the Electoral Commission welcomed the fact that 6,199 schools (95 per percent of total) could open its doors.
"The elections have passed in a peaceful manner, said at a news conference the president, Hamid Karzai. I congratulate our people for their courage and hope that our country succeed. "
According to top security officials, election day there were 130 attacks, many shells and four of them suicide bombers, who killed 17 members of security forces and 9 civilians and wounded 52 other people.
In addition, 21 Taliban were killed and another twenty were wounded, police said, in a shootout against the security forces in the northern Baghlan, where the Electoral Commission decided to extend the voting hours for another hour, until six, after happened.
Also killed a U.S. soldier of ISAF in a mortar attack in the east.
But despite the sporadic acts of violence for most of the country, the UN mission (UNAMA) maintained that the Taliban attempts to destabilize the process and intimidate voters were "lower than expected."
"We are cautiously optimistic because we know that millions of people have defied the danger. We believe that predictions of a massive security situation have failed, "said Efe UNAMA spokesman, Aleem Siddique.
The authorities had declared a holiday the day to facilitate voting by citizens and street-at least in the capital woke up without the usual pedestrian or traffic and the vast majority of shops closed.
Security checks were more intense than usual and the police was used to give high the few vehicles on the road to record thoroughly with dogs trained in explosives.
Karzai opened the vote very early in the electoral college, an institute of the heavily protected heart of Kabul, from which asked citizens a vote for stability and peace "to build a better country."
"No to violence. Vote no to violence! "urged Karzai, asked about Efe, on leaving school, ready with the first voters to exercise their right to vote.
According to data from UNAMA, the vote went better than expected in the very north-female participation and suffers in the south, the traditional stronghold of the Taliban, where the conflict is sharper and easier to bullying.
The Election Commission has already launched the counting of votes without further public participation data, which, according to Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, has been a 70 percent despite a boycott and threats from insurgents.
At the polls were called about 17 million Afghans in charge of electing the head of state in the second presidential election since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, with Karzai as the main favorite.
In recent days several of its rivals have reported their suspicions that the Government was preparing a fake, dummy records, vote buying, to ensure re-election without a runoff.
"They have detected fraud-confirmed Siddique. But nothing suggests that they were systematic. Where they occurred, measures were taken, so do not violate the integrity of the process. "
The doubts about the cleanliness of the process are based on the absence of a census, rampant illiteracy and logistical difficulties because of the difficult terrain and severe conflict against the Taliban.
"It's too early to judge. With all its limitations, the country has shown the world that can make an election. It is a good day for Afghanistan, "the UN spokesman.
Karzai, who needs more than 50 percent of votes to be reelected in the first round, had in the polls with much advantage over his rivals, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Planning Minister Ramazan Bashardost.
The first official results will be announced on September 3, according to the Electoral Commission.

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Thematic area:

1. Afghans elect their president tomorrow with Karzai as favorite
2. 11 Taliban killed election workers and voters fingers cut
3. Karzai and Abdullah claiming victory while continuing the counting of votes
4. India finished the vote and patient waiting to know the election result
5. Government assumes that Taliban will practice mass intimidation at the polls