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Afghan presidential election: Heavy security as polls open | Afghan presidential election: Heavy security as polls open |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Voting is under way in Afghanistan's presidential poll amid heavy security and bomb attacks from insurgents. | Voting is under way in Afghanistan's presidential poll amid heavy security and bomb attacks from insurgents. |
More than 70,000 security forces have been deployed across the country to counter Taliban militants who have vowed to target polling stations. | More than 70,000 security forces have been deployed across the country to counter Taliban militants who have vowed to target polling stations. |
The twice-delayed vote is taking place after Taliban-US peace talks collapsed earlier this month. | The twice-delayed vote is taking place after Taliban-US peace talks collapsed earlier this month. |
The two main candidates are the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani, and chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah. | The two main candidates are the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani, and chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah. |
They have shared power since 2014 in a unity government. | They have shared power since 2014 in a unity government. |
At least one person has been killed and 27 others wounded in bomb and mortar attacks on voting centres. | At least one person has been killed and 27 others wounded in bomb and mortar attacks on voting centres. |
But in the southern city of Kandahar, women were seen standing in queues to vote, despite a bomb attack on a polling station. | But in the southern city of Kandahar, women were seen standing in queues to vote, despite a bomb attack on a polling station. |
Women voters make up 35% of the more than nine million Afghans registered to vote. | Women voters make up 35% of the more than nine million Afghans registered to vote. |
Turnout is expected to be low, but one voter said she would cast her vote even if it meant standing in long queues for hours. | Turnout is expected to be low, but one voter said she would cast her vote even if it meant standing in long queues for hours. |
"Bravery is defined when one musters the courage to cast their vote in Afghanistan," said Roya Jahangir, a doctor based in the capital, Kabul. | |
"We hope this time there is no fraud - otherwise voters will feel cheated once again," she told Reuters news agency. | "We hope this time there is no fraud - otherwise voters will feel cheated once again," she told Reuters news agency. |
Why does this election matter? | Why does this election matter? |
Afghanistan's next president will lead a country devastated by four decades of war. The conflict continues to kill thousands of people every year, drawing in forces from around the world. | Afghanistan's next president will lead a country devastated by four decades of war. The conflict continues to kill thousands of people every year, drawing in forces from around the world. |
Nearly two decades since the international community intervened, the US has been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict with the Taliban. | Nearly two decades since the international community intervened, the US has been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict with the Taliban. |
The US currently has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, and there are thousands more from countries part of a Nato mission to train, advise and assist the country's security forces. | The US currently has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, and there are thousands more from countries part of a Nato mission to train, advise and assist the country's security forces. |
Whoever is elected president in the fourth election since US-led troops ousted the Taliban in 2001 should have a key role to play. | Whoever is elected president in the fourth election since US-led troops ousted the Taliban in 2001 should have a key role to play. |
However, the Taliban currently refuse to negotiate directly with the Afghan government, saying it is illegitimate. They say they will only talk to Afghan authorities after a deal with the US is agreed. | However, the Taliban currently refuse to negotiate directly with the Afghan government, saying it is illegitimate. They say they will only talk to Afghan authorities after a deal with the US is agreed. |
Who sits at the head of Afghanistan's government matters to the people caught in the crossfire between the army, the Taliban and other insurgents. | Who sits at the head of Afghanistan's government matters to the people caught in the crossfire between the army, the Taliban and other insurgents. |
BBC research found an average of 74 men, women and children died in the conflict every day during the month of August across Afghanistan. A fifth of those killed were civilians. | BBC research found an average of 74 men, women and children died in the conflict every day during the month of August across Afghanistan. A fifth of those killed were civilians. |
According to the United Nations, more civilians were killed by Afghan and US forces in the first half of this year than by insurgents. | According to the United Nations, more civilians were killed by Afghan and US forces in the first half of this year than by insurgents. |
What are the other issues? | What are the other issues? |
Five years ago, the presidential election was mired by allegations of fraud and vote-rigging. It took months to reach a result, with a deal between the two main contenders negotiated by the US ending in a "national unity government". | Five years ago, the presidential election was mired by allegations of fraud and vote-rigging. It took months to reach a result, with a deal between the two main contenders negotiated by the US ending in a "national unity government". |
Hopes are not high that things will be better this time. | Hopes are not high that things will be better this time. |
Out of a population of about 37 million, fewer than 10 million are registered to vote - and even fewer are expected to cast a ballot. A poll carried out by the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan found more than half of respondents were not planning to vote. | Out of a population of about 37 million, fewer than 10 million are registered to vote - and even fewer are expected to cast a ballot. A poll carried out by the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan found more than half of respondents were not planning to vote. |
This is in part due to threats of violence from the Taliban, who have said they will attack polling booths and have already targeted election rallies. | This is in part due to threats of violence from the Taliban, who have said they will attack polling booths and have already targeted election rallies. |
There are also large areas of the country under Taliban control, where the Kabul government has little to no power, and voting is all but impossible. | There are also large areas of the country under Taliban control, where the Kabul government has little to no power, and voting is all but impossible. |
But a perceived lack of enthusiasm among voters is also attributed to a feeling things may not change for the better - not helped by the fact the same two men who fought for months over the top job in 2014 are the front-runners once again. | But a perceived lack of enthusiasm among voters is also attributed to a feeling things may not change for the better - not helped by the fact the same two men who fought for months over the top job in 2014 are the front-runners once again. |
Both have been accused of corruption while in office. Meanwhile, unemployment stands at about 25%, according to the UN, and almost 55% of Afghans are living below the poverty line. | Both have been accused of corruption while in office. Meanwhile, unemployment stands at about 25%, according to the UN, and almost 55% of Afghans are living below the poverty line. |
Who are the contenders? | Who are the contenders? |
Eighteen men - including former warlords, ex-spies and members of the country's former communist government - initially put themselves forward to fight the election, but five have dropped out. | Eighteen men - including former warlords, ex-spies and members of the country's former communist government - initially put themselves forward to fight the election, but five have dropped out. |
Not one woman is running for president, and only three women appear on the tickets of others. | Not one woman is running for president, and only three women appear on the tickets of others. |
Read more: | Read more: |
How does the vote work? | How does the vote work? |
The Afghan president is elected through a two-round direct voting system. A run-off is triggered if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast. | The Afghan president is elected through a two-round direct voting system. A run-off is triggered if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast. |
Results are due three weeks later. A second round, if needed, will be held in November. | Results are due three weeks later. A second round, if needed, will be held in November. |
Almost 5,000 polling stations will be open on Saturday for people to cast their votes. | Almost 5,000 polling stations will be open on Saturday for people to cast their votes. |
A biometric voting system - based on fingerprints - will be used across the country to try to avoid fraud as people cast their ballots. | A biometric voting system - based on fingerprints - will be used across the country to try to avoid fraud as people cast their ballots. |