Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghans say ready to secure parliamentary poll
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Slideshow
Video
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Read
WRAPUP 3-U.S. Senate Republicans firm on tax cuts for rich
13 Sep 2010
Iraq combat over but U.S. troops still in danger
13 Sep 2010
Oil steady near 1-month highs on expected U.S. stock drop
2:59am EDT
US scientists learn how to levitate tiny objects
07 Jan 2009
Pyramids, Nanowires Show Two Futures for Artificial Skin
13 Sep 2010
Shared
Cuba announces mass layoffs in bid to spur private sector
13 Sep 2010
Sri Lanka bourse hits new peak on growth hopes; low rates
09 Sep 2010
INTERVIEW-Garmin mulls future of smartphone unit
09 Sep 2010
Fewer than half of U.S. moms breastfeed enough: CDC
13 Sep 2010
USDA knew of problems at egg recall farm: report
10 Sep 2010
Watched
Gaga crowned; Oprah's big trip
Mon, Sep 13 2010
Wall Street's Gordon Gekko is back
Fri, Sep 10 2010
Hurricane Igor strengthening
Mon, Sep 13 2010
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. NASDAQ delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Afghans say ready to secure parliamentary poll
Tweet This
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Related News
Afghans protest against Koran burning for third day
Sun, Sep 12 2010
Koran-burning protests could delay Afghan poll: U.N.
Thu, Sep 9 2010
More Afghan poll sites to stay closed as security woes rise
Tue, Sep 7 2010
U.S. commander seeks 2,000 new troops for Afghanistan
Mon, Sep 6 2010
Graft and threats of violence cloud hopes for Afghan vote
Mon, Sep 6 2010
Analysis & Opinion
Asia – A Week in Pictures September 12, 2010
Religious tension marks Sept. 11 anniversary
Related Topics
World »
Afghanistan »
Related Video
Women eye Afghan election seats
1:26am EDT
1 / 5
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations, at a warehouse in Kabul, September 13, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Ahmad Masood
By Jonathon Burch
KABUL |
Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:04am EDT
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan security forces, backed by foreign troops, are "completely prepared" to secure elections this week, the president's office said on Monday, despite soaring violence and a Taliban threat to disrupt the vote.
Saturday's election is seen as a test of stability in Afghanistan before U.S. President Barack Obama conducts a war strategy review in December that will examine the pace and scale of U.S. troop withdrawals from July 2011.
President Hamid Karzai met senior Afghan and international security officials, including the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, his office said.
"According to a joint plan with international forces, Afghan security forces are completely prepared to secure the election and polling centers," Karzai's palace said in a statement, citing security officials at Monday's meeting.
Karzai urged security officials to use "everything at their disposal" to secure the election, the statement said.
Violence in Afghanistan is at its worst since the Taliban were overthrown by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in late 2001, despite the presence of some 150,000 foreign troops and around 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police.
The Taliban have denounced the poll as a "foreign process" and said they will attack international and Afghan troops during the election and urged voters not to participate.
In Washington, Obama held a nearly two-hour meeting with national security advisers about Afghanistan and Pakistan and was briefed about "preparations and challenges associated with the upcoming Afghan-led parliamentary elections," the White House said in a statement.
Afghans will take the lead in securing polling sites, just as they did at least year's presidential election.
The Taliban failed to completely disrupt that vote but attacks and threats of violence helped keep turnout low in some areas of the important Pashtun tribal belt in the south and east.
NATO and U.S. troops will have a backseat role but will have quick reaction forces on standby.
FRAGILE SECURITY
Security and fraud are the major concerns for the vote.
Four candidates have already been killed and many more have been wounded, according to the United Nations and government officials.
Even more candidates, particularly women, have suffered intimidation and have received direct threats on their lives.
The fragility of Afghanistan's security was further illustrated at the weekend when violent protests erupted around the country in reaction to plans by a small U.S. church to burn copies of the Koran. The church's pastor abandoned his plan.
Three people were killed during three straight days of demonstrations. The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, warned last week the protests had the potential to delay this week's vote.
De Mistura said, even before the protests, a turnout of between five million and 7 million of Afghanistan's roughly 17.5 million registered voters should be considered a success in view of the difficulties of staging a vote amid an armed conflict.
Tensions appeared to have eased by Monday but the events over the past three days highlighted the resentment many Afghans have for their government and its Western backers.
Many of the protesters shouted anti-U.S. slogans and some attacked a German-run outpost in northeastern Badakhshan province, where one of the demonstrators was killed.
(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by Paul Tait and Vicki Allen)
World
Afghanistan
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 IAEA chief 'regrets' Iran's ban on inspectors
Afghans say ready to secure parliamentary poll
|
US post in Afghan hamlet a 'bullet magnet'
'Time bomb' superbug requires global response: doctor
Greece fears renewed fuel shortages as truckers halt work
Cuba to eliminate state jobs and spur private sector
|
Turkish vote boosts PM's re-election chances
OECD sees economic expansion losing steam
Police patrol Guinea capital after street battles
|
NATO: Airstrikes kill 14 insurgents in Afghanistan
Iran Koran protesters scuffle with police
|
Fourteen killed in India Kashmir and Koran protests
Planned Haiti hotel would be biggest of its kind since quake
|
Thirteen dead in Kashmir, Christian school torched
Philippine authorities uncertain on bus hostage deaths
Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman takes Aussie love story global
Thirteen killed in Kashmir protests
Hurricane Igor gets stronger, storm Julia follows
Indonesian police probe knife assault on Christians
China Southern Airlines hit by safety incidents
Japan frees China boat crew and calls for gas talks
China-Japan row boils despite crew release
Jihadists 'planned maximum casualties' at Aus base
Capitol Building Evacuated After Powdery Substance Discovered
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
New Wildfire Erupts in Colorado
Starbucks Instant Coffee Sticks Hit $100 Million Sales In 10 Months
"Casino Jack" shines light on disgraced Abramoff
Italy delays decision on EU-South Korea pact veto
U.S. First Lady Helps Launch School Recipe Contest
Oprah Winfrey shocks audience with free trip
Pentagon Worried As China Slows Export Of Rare Earth Metals
Vatican library to re-open after massive restoration
Angle, Reed Virtually Tied In Nevada Senate Race
Stanley Tucci finds fatherhood not so simple in "Easy A"
US 'domestic compulsions' holding up Doha deal: India
HP To Acquire ArcSight For $1.5 Billion
Hurricane Igor, Tropical Storm Julia Stirring Up Atlantic
Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman takes Aussie love story global
Senate Begins Impeachment Hearings Against Judge
What Marie-Antoinette would look like with plastic surgery
China's Wen says trade surplus not intentional
Bob Marley family loses case over hit records
Logging threat to Europe's last primeval forest
Oprah Winfrey shocks audience with free trip
|
Joaquin Phoenix to make Letterman TV show encore
|
Bob Marley family loses case over hit records
|
Stanley Tucci finds fatherhood not so simple in Easy A
|
Casino Jack shines light on disgraced Abramoff
|
Boyle, Franco challenged in survival film 127 Hours
|
Iran's Khamenei urges US to punish Koran defilers
Nine alleged ETA collaborators arrested in Spain
Japan PM wins party vote but faces more challenges
|
AppNation rises in booming world of smartphone programs
Settlements row to dominate U.S.-led Mideast talks
|
Settlements row to dominate U.S.-led Mideast talks
Miracle as 36 survive Venezuelan plane crash
French lawmakers in final vote on veil ban
US-TECH Summary
North Korea succession meeting could start soon
|
Clinton: both sides must move on Jewish settlements
US plans massive arms sale to Saudi to counter Iran threat
Cuba announces mass layoffs in bid to spur private sector
|
Hunger costing poor nations $450 bln a year: NGO
Iran Koran protesters scuffle with police
U.S. Ad Spending Hits $63 Billion In First Half Of 2010
Houghton Mifflin creates fund for digital learning
Afghans say ready to secure parliamentary poll
|
Le Monde cries foul as France probes L'Oreal leak
"Prince Of Persia" Coming To DVD, Blu-Ray September 14
India deploys more police to Kashmir after protests
|
U.N. nuclear body and Iran clash over barred inspectors
French Roma round-up draws more flak
Microsoft Halo aims to reignite video game market
U.S. Developing $60 Billion Arms Deal With Saudi Arabia
Venezuelan plane crash kills 15, more survive
|
Americans spending more time with news: Pew survey
Third Season Of ABCs Private Practice Hits DVD
Mexico arrest deals another blow to cartels
|
Iran clerics vow death for Koran-defilers
Blake Lively Wears Twenty8Twelve On "Gossip Girl"
eBay defeats Tiffany in counterfeit jewelry suit
Sex-trade traffickers exploit Canadian visa rules
|
Microsoft condemns use of anti-piracy laws to stifle dissent
TLC To Debut New Series Auctioneer$
Get Him To The Greek Bar Parties In New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston And San Francisco
HP to buy ArcSight in 1.5-billion-dollar deal
Forget the Eiffel Tower, France tells Hollywood
Disney's "The Black Cauldron" Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Special Edition DVD
U.S. Stocks Gain Amid Upbeat Chinese Economy, New Bank Rules
YouTube tests new live streaming video platform
Student Loan Rates Up As Graduates Continue Defaulting
Clinton in Egypt for Mideast peace talks
Japan PM Kan survives leadership challenge
Apple's iPad to go on sale in China on Friday
Australia pays millions for Sydney 'Oprah' House
Tony Blair awarded US Liberty Medal for peace work
Strict curfew in Indian Kashmir after bloodshed
Accused airline bomber Abdulmutallab fires lawyers
US will not pay bail for jailed hiker: State Department
Microsoft Halo aims to reignite video game market
|
Australia forks out millions for Sydney 'Oprah' House
US rockets kill 7 militants in Pakistan: officials
Vietnam publisher struggles to issue Western classics
Schwarzenegger rides Japan's newest bullet train
eBay defeats Tiffany in counterfeit jewelry suit
|
Forget the Eiffel Tower, France tells Hollywood
Key N.Korea party meeting draws near: state media
Thailand apologises after tsunami false alarm
Houghton Mifflin creates fund for digital learning
|
Cyprus clinic at centre of human egg trafficking probe
Australian PM sworn in at helm of shaky coalition
Aussie marathon man to run from North to South poles
Shark victims unite to save their attackers
N.Zealand plane makes Antarctic mercy dash
'Resident Evil' snatches box office lead
Actress Carey Mulligan says schmoozing isn't her scene
"Halo: Reach" videogame invasion begins
China's Geely unveils ambitious plans for Volvo
S.Korea to ease restriction on N.Korea factory
South Korea's Kia halts exports to Iran
Seoul shares turn flat after gains; Hyundai Motor up
South Korean shares open higher, led by techs
WRAPUP 1-NZ retail sales fall in July; rates seen on hold
Dollar trades at new 15-year low vs Japanese yen
Lady Gaga says she's not a piece of meat
|
Clint Eastwood surprises again with Hereafter
|
Dollar at new 15-year low vs yen
Dollar at new low vs yen in early Tokyo trade
German investor confidence sinks in September
Iranian leader faces criticism from inside and outside
|
U.N. sees global hunger easing in 2010
|
Italy seizes $1.9 billion of assets as Mafia goes green
|
Spare police in spending cuts, UK officer urges
|
EU threatens action against France over Roma
|
Australia's NAB terminates $12.4 bln AXA bid
Ugandan army dismisses U.N. accusations of Congo crimes
|
Belgian Church fears apologizing for abuse -bishop
|
China hits back at Japan in boat row
Czechs stop Google's Street View data collection
North Korea "succession" meeting could start soon
LG Elec unveils new smartphone, eyes 10 million unit sale
Nokia unveils three new smartphones
Nail torture case shines light on Asia's migrant maids
Disease risk eases in parts of flooded Pakistan
Protesters battle with police in Kashmir
US-TECH Summary
China demands Japan free boat captain immediately
Nokia hits back with new phones amid turmoil at top
|
Malaysia accused may be serial killers: police
LG Elec unveils new smartphone, eyes 10 million unit sale
India hopes for resolution of BlackBerry issue
|
Czechs stop Google's Street View data collection
|
Nokia unveils three new smartphones
Japan PM wins party vote but faces more challenges
LG Elec unveils new smartphone, eyes 10 million unit sale
|
Instant view-Kan wins Japan ruling party leadership vote
Microsoft Halo aims to reignite video game market
|
China accuses Japan of provocation in maritime row
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem expecting baby
An "It Girl" emerges at Toronto Film Festival
Bill Maher says atheism stands in way of an Emmy
"Capote" actor a reluctant star in directing debut
Asian film centre-stage at first Vietnam film fest
India inflation at seven-month low
Pakistani stocks end higher; rupee flat; o/n rates down
S.Korean banking group suspends CEO
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem expecting baby
|
Oprah trip Down Under surprises Australians
Yen soars as most Asian markets advance
Singer George Michael jailed for drug-drive offence
|
Lady Gaga says she's not a piece of meat
|
Gates, Buffett says no pressure on China super-rich
Bill Maher says atheism stands in way of an Emmy
|
India scraps approval for Lafarge cement project
Lady Gaga the big winner at MTV music awards
|
Seoul shares shed 0.2 pct; retailers fall
An It Girl emerges at Toronto Film Festival
|
Capote actor a reluctant star in directing debut
|
The cost of reunifying Korea? about $3 trillion
Toyota to launch six new hybrids by end of 2012
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