Taliban fighters attack several polling stations, but intense security prevents large-scale violence.
Strict security ensured that Afghanistan's presidential elections were held on Saturday with relative calm, although several small attacks, low participation and complaints about the voting system raised fears that an unclear result could lead to greater chaos.
No preliminary results are expected before October 17 and final results until November 7. If no candidate obtains 51 percent of the votes, a second round will take place between the two main candidates.
The Taliban fighters attacked several polling stations across the country to try to derail the process, but intense security prevented large-scale violence from previous polls.
"This election was the healthiest and fair election compared to the previous elections," said Hawa Alam Nuristani, head of the country's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), after the vote was concluded.
Ten thousands of Afghans challenged the threat of militant attacks and delays at the polling stations to vote in elections, an important test of the ability of the West-backed government to protect democracy against Taliban attempts to derail it.
Two policemen and a civilian were killed in Taliban attacks mostly on a small scale, the defense ministry said, adding that 37 people were injured.
Tens of thousands of soldiers were deployed to try to protect voters and polling stations.
IEC officials did not immediately share the details about participation, but Western diplomats in Kabul estimated that it was low due to fear of violence and delays caused by election officials.
The vote was extended for two hours, after technical problems delayed the opening of some polling stations throughout the country.
Independent election observers and activists said a slow pace of voting triggered confusion in some polling stations, with long lines forming outside.
“It took 31 minutes for the first voter to vote. For subsequent voters, it took them about five minutes and then began to simplify to 3 minutes and 30 seconds, ”said Nishank Motwani, an observer stationed in Kabul.
"The electoral commission staff was terrified and the voters were angry because the line was not moving."
The men arrive to cast their votes in front of an electoral college in the presidential elections of Jalalabad. – ReutersA security force staff checks a man in front of a polling station in Jalalabad. – AFPAn election commission worker takes a picture of a man before casting his vote in a polling station in the Jalalabad presidential elections. – ReutersA woman holds her son while voting at a polling station in Jalalabad. – AFPWomen stand in line to cast their vote at a polling station in Herat. – AFPBallots are seen on the table during the presidential elections, at a polling station in Kabul. – APAn Afghan policeman casts his vote at a polling station in Kabul. – ReutersAfghan Sikhs show their inked fingers after casting their votes at a polling station in the city of Jalalabad. – APAn official of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) scans a voter's finger with a biometric device at a polling station in Herat. – AFPAfghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani arrives to cast his vote in the presidential elections in Kabul. – ReutersIn this photograph of the brochure taken and published by the Press Office of the President of Afghanistan, an official of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) scans the face of Afghan president and candidate Ashraf Ghani with a biometric device at a polling station in Kabul. – AFPIn this photograph, taken and published by the Press Office of the President of Afghanistan, Afghan President and candidate Ashraf Ghani casts his vote at a polling station in Kabul. – AFPAfghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah arrives at a polling station in Kabul. – ReutersAfghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah casts his vote at a polling station in Kabul. – ReutersInjured men are treated in a hospital after an explosion in Kandahar province. – AFPAn injured man is treated in a hospital after an explosion when his son touches his feet in Jalalabad. – AFPA crane is seen when people vote in the presidential elections in Kabul. – ReutersAn official of the Independent Electoral Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) empties a ballot box to count the ballots after the closing of the polling stations, in Herat. – AFPOfficials of the Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) count the ballots after the polling stations were closed, in Mazar-i-Sharif. – AFPOfficials of the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) count the ballots after the polling station was closed, in Mazar-i-Sharif. – AFPAn Afghan election commission worker prepares ballots to count in Kabul. – Reuters
