tlmorg02
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BBC NEWS | South Asia | Afghans vote amid militant threat
Many feel that neither Iraq or Afghanistan can succeed. So tell me, is it not encouraging to see a good turn-out for free elections is a country where the voters are threatened for showing up? I think that both countries will be free democracies, in a Middle Eastern sense, not Western, someday and will join the rest of the free world.
Afghans have voted in the country's second presidential election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
The vote passed off without major violence, despite sporadic attacks by Taliban who had vowed to disrupt it.
Reports suggest turnout was patchy - although polling was extended. Fewer people voted in the south, where militant influence is greater.
President Hamid Karzai, running for a second term, faces competition from dozens of rivals.
Polls officially closed at 1700 (1230 GMT), after being kept open for an extra hour.
The election follows a lively campaign period in which dozens of candidates vied for the presidency - but it was marred by violent attacks and frequent complaints of pre-election corruption and fraud.
Some 300,000 Afghan and international troops were on patrol to prevent attacks.
Many feel that neither Iraq or Afghanistan can succeed. So tell me, is it not encouraging to see a good turn-out for free elections is a country where the voters are threatened for showing up? I think that both countries will be free democracies, in a Middle Eastern sense, not Western, someday and will join the rest of the free world.