InfoAnda - Afghans vote for parliament amid threats, attacks

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

NKorea accuses South of trying to 'harm' leader | 19 December 2008
Filipino justice head wants to arm lawyers, judges | 5 December 2010
CHRONOLOGY-South Korea tackles financial, economic crisis | 6 February 2009

BP deploys giant 'dome' to stem oil spill | 5 May 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Afghans vote for parliament amid threats, attacks

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Afghans vote for parliament amid threats, attacks By AMIR SHAH and RAHIM FAIEZ,Associated Press Writers - Sunday, September 19 Send IM Story Print KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghans braved Taliban rockets and polling site bombings Saturday to vote for a new parliament in elections seen as a measure of the government's competence and commitment to democratic rule. The Interior Ministry said at least 11 civilians and four security forces were killed and dozens more injured in the first nationwide balloting since a fraud-marred presidential election last year undermined international support for President Hamid Karzai. Security has worsened since then, and the Taliban made good on threats to disrupt Saturday's polling. Observers had expected the vote to be far from perfect, but hoped it would be accepted by the Afghan people as legitimate. About 2,500 candidates were vying for 249 seats in the parliament. Afghan security officials dismissed the attacks as "insignificant," and said they did not hamper voting, adding that 92 percent of polling stations were open. The Afghan Election Commission Chairman Fazel Ahmad Manawi declared the elections were "very successful." However, there were reports of voting irregularities and turnout nationwide appeared spotty at best, though the level of violence was lower than during last year's presidential poll, when more than 30 civilians and more than a dozen Afghan security forces were killed. The Election Commission did not give an overall turnout figure, but said that 3.6 million people cast ballots at the 86 percent of polling stations that had reported figures so far. Nearly 6 million ballots were cast in the presidential vote last year, out of 17 million registered voters. Polls officially closed at 4 p.m., but in areas of the capital with heavy turnout some closed earlier because of a shortage of ballots, while some others allowed voting past the deadline. Full preliminary results are not expected until the end of the month and final results in late October. In the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in the south, voters ventured out in small groups despite rocket strikes and bomb blasts. One bomb targeted the convoy of Gov. Tooryalai Wesa as it drove between voting centers but no one was injured, police officer Abdul Manan said. Wesa still urged Kandaharis to come out and vote. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he said. "The enemy wants the election to fail, so if you want the insurgents out of your land, you'll have to come out and vote." Voters even lined up in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar city, where Taliban leader Mullah Omar's radical Islamic movement was born 16 years ago. Hundreds of Afghan and international troops secured the area. "People are fed up with the Taliban, that's why they're coming out more and more, so they can get rid of the Taliban," businessman Saleh Naeem said. The militants had warned they would target anyone voting or working at the polls. The Taliban, which often exaggerates its attacks, said on its website it had conducted more than 100 attacks during the day, listing them by location. Interior Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi said there were 33 bomb explosions and 63 rocket attacks, and 33 mines were discovered before exploding. One suicide attacker was killed in Kapisa province before he detonated himself, he said. Afghan security officials said 30 Taliban were killed, 23 wounded and 26 were arrested on Saturday. NATO said an insurgent leader in Shigal Wa Sheltan district in eastern Kunar province was killed in a precision airstrike as he was attempting to attack a polling site. The military alliance reported that two coalition service members died Saturday, one following an insurgent attack and the other as a result of a non-battle injury. The service members' nationalities were not disclosed. At a mosque in eastern Kabul, a former schoolteacher said she had traveled from her home on the outskirts of the city the night before because voting was safer in the center city. "Even though I heard about those rocket attacks, I wanted to vote," said Aziza, 48, who gave only her first name. "Today is a historic day for Afghan people and it is very important for the restoration of democracy." Karzai cast his vote at a high school in the capital. He said he hoped voters would not be deterred by the attacks. The elections will "take the country many steps forward to a better future," Karzai said. Last year's presidential election was similarly seen as a chance for the government to move forward to a more democratic future, then complaints of ballot-box stuffing _ much of it for Karzai's benefit _ and misconduct mounted. Though Karzai still emerged the victor, the drawn-out process and his reluctance to acknowledge corruption led many of his international backers to question their commitment to Afghanistan. The international community has spent billions trying to shore up the Karzai administration in the face of a strengthening insurgency. Questions about fraud-prevention measures arose within hours of the polls opening Saturday. Campaign worker Mohammad Hawaid in Kabul complained that the ink applied to voters' fingers to prevent them from casting multiple ballots was not working. The ink is supposed to last 72 hours. "It can be wiped off," Hawaid said. "This is a major irregularity." In Jalalabad, observers said poll workers were letting people vote with faked registration cards. "The women coming here have so many cards that don't have the stamp and are not real cards but still they are voting," said Nazreen, a monitor for the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, which has dispatched observers throughout the country. Fake voter registration cards flooded into Afghanistan ahead of the balloting, but election officials had promised that poll workers were trained to spot them. Security officials said 86 people were arrested Saturday for possessing 26,187 fake cards. NATO's senior civilian representative said some fraud was expected, and that it would not necessarily undermine the vote. "The real issue is the scale of that and does it affect the result. And does it affect the credibility of the election, not in our eyes but in the eyes of the Afghan people?" Mark Sedwill said. ___ Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Jalalabad, Mirwais Khan in Kandahar and Heidi Vogt, Deb Riechmann, Dusan Stojanovic and Kimberly Dozier in Kabul contributed to this report. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Nigerian president launches 2011 bid at Abuja rally AFP - Sunday, September 19 Igor bears down on Bermuda, Karl kills two in Mexico AFP - 40 minutes ago Tens of thousands protest against German nuclear plan AFP - 41 minutes ago Mauritanian troops battle Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali AFP - 50 minutes ago Pope expresses 'shame' as meets abuse victims AFP - 54 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Harvard lawyer to head US consumer watchdog Lindsay Lohan fails drug test, faces jail again ACS defends takeover bid for Hochtief Samsung takes aim at Apple's iPad, iTunes Sweden's welfare state at heart of final election debate More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Lindsay Lohan fails drug test, faces jail again Samsung takes aim at Apple's iPad, iTunes Harvard lawyer to head US consumer watchdog ACS defends takeover bid for Hochtief City, Liverpool win as Europa League gorges on goals More Most Viewed » Climate: New study slashes estimate of icecap loss US pastor puts Koran-burning on hold 'Time bomb' superbug requires global response: doctor Japanese rider Tomizawa dies in San Marino Moto2 GP Vitamin B 'could delay Alzheimer's onset' More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 19 September 2010
U.S. woman held in Iran leaves Oman on way home
Mauritanian troops battle Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali
Iran's Ahmadinejad meets Syrian leader
Thousands surround Merkel office in nuclear protest |
Tens of thousands protest against German nuclear plan
Four killed in Iran kidnap rescue: report
Sudanese migrant shot dead at Egypt-Israel border
Canadian convicted of lying in Air India bomb case |
Afghans vote for parliament amid threats, attacks
Police: Safety lapse likely caused Sri Lanka blast
US hiker freed by Iran is on her way home
Troops open fire in Indian Kashmir, killing 3
Hurricane Igor bears down on Bermuda
London hotel opens Jimi Hendrix shrine
WikiLeaks founder 'free to leave Sweden'
Clinton hopes for 'responsible' leadership in Iran
Swedish parliamentary elections open
Fraud concerns weigh on early Afghan vote count |
Microsoft, jostle for US search share
Ahmadinejad asks US to free 'illegally' held Iranians
Pope apologizes on abuse, thousands protest in London |
Pope beatifies convert on final day of British trip
Sunderland deny Arsenal win in Premier League
Afghans praised for voting in shadow of violence
Wall Street ends week up, awaits Fed meeting
U.S. army charges 5 soldiers over Afghan murders: report |
NATO plans 'slimline military command'
Afghan observers question election as tally starts
Japan mulls drilling near disputed gas field: media |
New rules to force German banks to raise 50 bln: report
Swedes vote in election clouded by far-right advance
Afghans vote despite attacks; turnout appears low
ETA says ready to go further for peace: report
Two foreigners wounded in Delhi shooting: TV |
Four Buddhists killed in restive Thai south |
Rockets, threats disrupt Afghan election in south
Mauritanian troops battle Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali
Bomb deactivated at Mexican mall: report |
European Roma rights groups threaten to take France to court
Taiwan shuts down as typhoon makes landfall |
Facebook fervor feeds "The Social Network" fascination
Hurricane Igor bears down on Bermuda
Obama, ASEAN to call for peaceful end to sea spats
Japan notes China's 'restraint' of protests
US hiker freed by Iran is on her way home
Maradona due in China 'for charity lunch with fans'
Philanthropist sees China as charity superpower
Authorities: 6 dead in church van crash in NY
Facebook fervor feeds "The Social Network" fascination
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Four Buddhists killed in restive Thai south
"The Bang Bang Club" relives apartheid's last days
Australia to go to C.Games despite security threat
Microsoft, jostle for search market share
Nicosia's abandoned airport comes alive, for a night
Australian PM calls for truce with rivals
World-famous Munich beer fest drinks to 200th birthday
Sumitomo to produce fibre-optic cables in China: report
N.Korea beefs up arsenal near border with South: report
Limbless Frenchman swims Channel
Fed expected to wait and see as economy convalesces
Powerful typhoon lashes Taiwan
Thai 'Red Shirts' rally to mark 2006 coup, May crackdown
S.Korea c.bank head: Japan needs FX coordination
Canadian guilty of lying in 1985 Air India bomb case
S.Korea Aug biz startup/failure ratio at 3-mth low
S.Korea firms see recovery slowing down
The Bang Bang Club relives apartheid's last days |
Indian conglomerate in talks about MGM bid |
Twin Baghdad car bombs kill at least 29
Three bombs kill 18, wound scores in Iraq |
Two car bombs in Iraqi capital kill 12 and wound dozens
Two wounded after gunmen attack tourist bus in Delhi |
Iran detains seven U.S. troops
Cross controversy mars historic service in Turkey
US soldiers accused of killing Afghans 'for sport'
Sweden government seen getting re-elected |
12 killed, 48 wounded, in twin Baghdad car bombs
Iran denies detaining seven U.S. troops |
Ahmadinejad asks US to free 'illegally' held Iranians
Nigeria security adviser quits to challenge Jonathan |
Iran jails rights activist for 'warring against God'
Typhoon injures 45 in Taiwan |
Thai "red shirts" return for symbolic rallies
Three more protesters die in Indian Kashmir
China suspends contacts as Japan boat row deepens
Typhoon injures 45 in Taiwan
Taiwanese tourists shot in attack at Delhi mosque
'Master of blue jeans' holds key to fashion riddle
U.S. army charges 5 soldiers over Afghan murders
Gunmen attack tourist bus in Delhi, two wounded
Authorities search for 13 from 'cult-like' sect
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01