Stakes high as Afghans go to vote

BBC.COM
Millions of Afghans are set to vote in the country's second presidential election since the fall of the Taliban.Militants have threatened to disrupt the polls, in which President Hamid Karzai is running for a second term.Violence has escalated in recent days and at least five election workers were killed on Wednesday. There are fears some Afghans will be afraid to vote.But a government order for a media black-out on poll-day attacks so as not to dissuade voters has been criticised.Some 300,000 Afghan troops and members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) are being deployed to protect the 17 million registered voters.Polling stations open at 0700 (0230 GMT) and close at 1600. However, it remains unclear how many of the 6,969 polling sites will operate because of the security threat.“ I'm requesting all our people wherever they are... to come out and vote in millions ”
The interior ministry says about a third of the country is at high risk of attack and that no polling stations will be open in eight districts under Taliban control.
There are also concerns about corruption, with reports of voting cards being openly sold and of candidates offering large bribes.
Opinion polls suggest support for Hamid Karzai, who is running against 41 candidates, is at around 45%, with his former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, in second place with 25%.On Wednesday Mr Karzai urged all registered voters to cast their ballot in defiance of the insurgents.
Ian Pannell, BBC News, Kabul Despite a lively campaign the enthusiasm and joy that surrounded the last election has largely disappeared.
Corruption, fraud, apathy and the threat of attacks from the Taliban are expected to keep many people away from the polls.But millions of pounds have been invested and hundreds of lives have been lost in order to allow this election to happen.Not surprising then that western officials insist that any vote, however flawed, is still better than none at all."I'm requesting all our people, wherever they are - in villages, in homes, in remote areas, in valleys - to come out and vote in millions to make this country a greater, better success," he said. "It's good for all of us."
"Enemies will do their best, but it won't help," he added.
Militants have made repeated threats against the polls and more than 25 people have been killed in bombings and attacks in the last two days.
In a statement, the Taliban said 20 suicide bombers had made their way to the capital, Kabul, where they were preparing attacks.
In Helmand province, insurgents warned that anyone with indelible ink on their finger, used to identify people who have voted, would have it cut off.
The BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in the Helmand city of Lashkar Gah, says there is a quiet sense of menace in the province as people weigh up whether to risk going to the polling station.
Reporters harassed
The US has expressed concern about the apparent attempts by militants to intimidate voters.
But State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said there was a "very strong will of the majority of people in Afghanistan to be responsible for their own destiny".

Mr Kelly also criticised Afghan attempts to ban media coverage of violence during the polls, saying unfettered media reporting was "a fundament of a free society".
Some journalists have reported being harassed and beaten by security forces. The United Nations has asked for the ban to be lifted, saying the Afghan constitution guarantees a free press.
Thursday's vote will be Afghanistan's second presidential election since the US-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban regime.
Preliminary official results should be announced sometime on Saturday evening. If the winning candidate fails to gain more than 50% of the vote on Thursday, there will be a second-round run-off in October.