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Afghan election officials count ballot papers after polls closed in Kabul on June 14.
Afghan election officials count ballot papers after polls closed in Kabul on June 14.

Live Blog: Election Day In Afghanistan

Latest News

-- The vote count continues, as does the investigation into hundreds of claims of vote fraud. Final preliminary results are expected on July 2, and final results on July 22.

-- Many media refrained from reporting violence during the vote, but officials said June 15 that more than 270 Taliban attacks were recorded, resulting in the deaths of 50 civilians.

-- In one attack, a roadside bomb exploded beside a minibus that was carrying Afghan election workers home, killing 10 adults and a child.

-- Taliban militants severed the voting fingers of 11 voters in Herat Province.

-- The Independent Electoral Commission initially said that there were signs that voter turnout exceeded 7 million, putting it roughly on par with the first-round vote in April.

-- Officials said that, of those who turned out, 38 percent were women and 62 percent were men.

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kabul
06:31 13.6.2014
Afghan Forces On Alert

190,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been deployed across the country, joining tens of thousands of national police, local police, village protection forces, and cadets. In total, there will around 400,000 Afghan security personnel out on election day.

That was the same number of security personnel used in the first round. It was the biggest security operation in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Foreign combat troops will again take a back seat tomorrow and assist with intelligence and logistics.
06:40 13.6.2014
06:50 13.6.2014
07:02 13.6.2014
07:30 13.6.2014
Kuchis

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has established special polling centres for Kuchis, nomadic Pashtuns, in several provinces. Most of the polling sites are located near their camps.
07:42 13.6.2014
Kabul Sealed Off

Only election vehicles allowed to enter Kabul. All roads leading into the capital sealed off.
08:06 13.6.2014
Will what is happening in Iraq happen in Afghanistan?

Many observers in Afghanistan have looked on in dread at the recent events unfolding in Iraq.

Abdullah, in a teleconference with the Atlantic Council last night, said the violence in Iraq illustrated the need for a "responsible" U.S. military exit strategy.

According to Reuters:
Asked whether he saw lessons from the insurgent violence in Iraq since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011, Abdullah said: "There might be some common ingredients in both cases."

President Hamid Karzai failure to sign a BSA had done a lot of damage and "created shadow of uncertainty about the future," he said, while adding: "As far as the United States is concerned, one lesson out of it ... here also comes the issue of a responsible exit strategy. That is important."

08:25 13.6.2014
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09:03 13.6.2014
British Prime Minister David Cameron tweets in Dari and Pashto.

"Historic day for the Afghan people tomorrow. 2nd round in Afghan election. Each vote is a vote for the future."

In Dari:

In Pashto:


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