Afghans cast votes amid Taliban threat
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Four sites, according to officials in Baraki Barak district of Logar province, have been shut down due to Taliban activities and security problems on Saturday while three other polling sites have been closed down in Muqur district of the northwest Badghis province.
Anyhow, the voting process is going on normally. Even in Kandahar, the birthplace of Taliban and in the neighboring provinces of Zabul, Helmand and Uruzgan, the process of voting is continuing in spite of minor security incidents.
President Hamid Karzai cast his vote in favor of his candidate. In a brief speech to journalists after casting vote, the president called upon his countrymen to use their franchise and elect their representatives to Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of parliament.
"I am happy today to cast my vote in the country's second parliamentary elections and wish the people to cast their votes in favor of their candidates in this historic day," President Karzai said.
This is the country's second parliamentary election since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001.
People are seen in thin queues in front of polling booths to cast their votes. However, election officials expect high turnout later in the day.
Meantime, minor security incidents have happened since the beginning of the voting in the country. According to officials, an explosion rocked the seventh precinct in the capital city Kabul, causing no loss of life.
Explosion has also been heard in the Taliban birthplace Kandahar but according to local officials there were no casualties. Militants also fired rockets on Gereshk and Sangin districts of Helmand province, but according to provincial administration spokesman Daud Ahmadi there were no casualties.
More than 2,500 candidates, with over 400 of them women, are vying for the 249-seat Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Afghan parliament amid tight security.
Voting begun formally at 7 a.m. local time and would last until 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, which would be extended if necessary, officials said.
Over 115,000 Afghan army and police personnel, with the backing of some 140,000-strong NATO-led troops, have been tasked to ensure security on the voting day in the militancy-hit Afghanistan.
