Rocket, Mortar Attacks Reported As Afghans Cast Votes

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Militants are making their presence known, but Afghans have been lining up to vote in today's presidential runoff election despite a Taliban warning to stay away from the polls.

Troops have been frisking voters before allowing them into polling stations and searching cars at checkpoints around the capital of Kabul.

In eastern Khost province, near the Pakistani border, a government spokesman says a series of rockets killed six civilians and wounded eight. Also in the east, a mortar shell killed two civilians and wounded three in Logar province. Several other explosions have been reported in Kabul and elsewhere, but those caused no casualties.

Today's runoff is between former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank official and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (ahsh-RAHF' gah-NEE' ah-mahd-ZEYE'). Both candidates promise to improve ties with the West and fight corruption as they confront a powerful Taliban insurgency and preside over the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of the year.

Filed Under: afghanistan, dead, rocket attacks, violence, votes

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