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| Afghan election: Abdullah and Ghani face second round | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Afghans have voted in run-off polls that will determine who will succeed President Hamid Karzai. | |
| The choice was between former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. | |
| The head of the election commission said turnout was good and most polling stations had opened but admitted some places had run out of ballot papers. | |
| The Taliban threatened to target voting, and there are concerns that fraud could produce a disputed result. | |
| It should be the first time that power in Afghanistan has been democratically transferred. | It should be the first time that power in Afghanistan has been democratically transferred. |
| As most foreign soldiers prepare to withdraw by the end of this year, whoever becomes the new leader faces multiple challenges. | |
| Taliban insurgents remain active, the economy is weak, corruption is endemic and the rule of law goes largely unenforced. | |
| Analysis: Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief international correspondent | Analysis: Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief international correspondent |
| Afghans who've lived through all the devastating wars since President Najibullah's Soviet-backed rule are hoping this election will help turn the page on their punishing history. | Afghans who've lived through all the devastating wars since President Najibullah's Soviet-backed rule are hoping this election will help turn the page on their punishing history. |
| It will be the first time in Afghan history that power is transferred peacefully, from one elected leader to another. | It will be the first time in Afghan history that power is transferred peacefully, from one elected leader to another. |
| Months of vigorous campaigning, and an impressive turnout in the first round of voting, were a strong testament to a country determined to move forward in the face of Taliban threats and violence. | Months of vigorous campaigning, and an impressive turnout in the first round of voting, were a strong testament to a country determined to move forward in the face of Taliban threats and violence. |
| Despite all the disappointments and setbacks since 2001, Afghanistan is now a changed country. | Despite all the disappointments and setbacks since 2001, Afghanistan is now a changed country. |
| When Afghans turn out to vote for this crucial second round, it will be a test of their security forces as well as the electoral institutions. | When Afghans turn out to vote for this crucial second round, it will be a test of their security forces as well as the electoral institutions. |
| Voting for a better future | Voting for a better future |
| About 12 million Afghans are eligible to vote. Polls closed at 16:00 local time (11:30 GMT) but officials said those in line at that time could still vote. | |
| The election commission said 6,204 polling centres had opened, but about 160 remained closed because of security threats. | |
| A BBC Pashto reporter in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar said the turnout among women was very high, and some polling stations were running out of ballot papers. | |
| Mr Abdullah won 45% of the first-round vote, with Mr Ghani securing 31.6% - neither achieved the 50% needed to avoid a second round. | |
| Both sides have faced multiple claims of fraud. | |
| Donkeys deployed | Donkeys deployed |
| Correspondents say that a seamless transfer of power would be a significant achievement for Afghanistan and a vindication of international efforts to establish a functioning democracy after the abuses of the Taliban era. | Correspondents say that a seamless transfer of power would be a significant achievement for Afghanistan and a vindication of international efforts to establish a functioning democracy after the abuses of the Taliban era. |
| But Afghanistan's mountainous and remote terrain, coupled with the dilapidated condition of many of its roads, mean that holding a country-wide election is a major challenge. Thousands of donkeys will be deployed to carry ballot boxes to some of the more inaccessible villages. | But Afghanistan's mountainous and remote terrain, coupled with the dilapidated condition of many of its roads, mean that holding a country-wide election is a major challenge. Thousands of donkeys will be deployed to carry ballot boxes to some of the more inaccessible villages. |
| The preliminary result is expected on 2 July and the final result on 22 July. | The preliminary result is expected on 2 July and the final result on 22 July. |
| Security is tight: police and soldiers have been searching most cars going into Kabul. | |
| "The level of threats is higher compared to the first round," Interior Minister Omar Daudzai was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. | "The level of threats is higher compared to the first round," Interior Minister Omar Daudzai was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. |
| "But we have gained far more experience and we have better equipment and are in a much better position to prevent any possible attack by terrorists." | "But we have gained far more experience and we have better equipment and are in a much better position to prevent any possible attack by terrorists." |
| Officials say that their main fear is a close outcome, because that would allow the supporters of whoever loses to reject defeat, possibly throwing the country back into war along ethnic lines. | Officials say that their main fear is a close outcome, because that would allow the supporters of whoever loses to reject defeat, possibly throwing the country back into war along ethnic lines. |