Afghans vote in presidential election

Saturday 05 April 2014 14.24

Millions of Afghan voters gave taken part in an election to choose the country's new president.

There was a heavy security presence around many of the polling stations and the day passed off without many major incidents.

Turnout was reported to be high, despite wet weather in many areas.

Women voted in separate polling stations from men and queues stretched outside school buildings.  

Of the eight candidates, the three frontrunners are former foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmay Rassoul, and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani.

Incumbent Afghan President Hamid Karzai cast his ballot this morning and urged his compatriots to do the same. 

He said: "I urge the people of Afghanistan once again to come out and vote for their candidate, despite the cold and the rain and the threats by our enemy.

"I ask you to come out and vote for a presidential candidate and a provincial council candidate in order for the success of Afghanistan."

Mr Karzai is not allowed to run for the presidency again by the constitution, but is widely expected to retain his hold on politics through politicians loyal to him.

He said: "I cast my vote today as a citizen of this country and I am so glad and proud that I have voted today.

"I am certain that today's event and our people's participation will take Afghanistan towards stability and better lives for the people."

If, as predicted, no one wins more than 50%, there will be a second round between the two leading contenders.

That run-off would be held on 28 May, spinning out the process into the holy month of Ramadan.

Preliminary results from the first round are due nearly six weeks after polling day, partly because of Afghanistan's mountainous terrain, which will require about 3,000 donkeys to carry ballot boxes from the most inaccessible areas.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Afghans vote in presidential election

Dengan url

http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2014/04/afghans-vote-in-presidential-election.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Afghans vote in presidential election

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Afghans vote in presidential election

sebagai sumbernya