04:53
15.6.2014
Higher Turnout?
Yusuf Nuristani, head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, estimated the turnout yesterday was even higher than the first round.
"The estimated numbers of the participants in today's election were more than 7 million, which includes 38 percent of women and 62 percent of men turned out."
The figures seemed surprising to many observers. The general consensus was that turnout in the big cities was much lower, but female participation in the provinces was higher. Still, many were not expecting the turnout figure to be quite as high as announced.
Yusuf Nuristani, head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, estimated the turnout yesterday was even higher than the first round.
"The estimated numbers of the participants in today's election were more than 7 million, which includes 38 percent of women and 62 percent of men turned out."
The figures seemed surprising to many observers. The general consensus was that turnout in the big cities was much lower, but female participation in the provinces was higher. Still, many were not expecting the turnout figure to be quite as high as announced.
05:11
15.6.2014
05:37
15.6.2014
United States Praises Vote
The United States has praised the millions of Afghans who voted yesterday.
Turnout was higher than expected after a generally peaceful day of voting, and Washington said the polls were a "significant step" for the country's burgeoning democracy. It hailed "the voters, electoral bodies and security forces for their commitment to the democratic process".
"These elections are a significant step forward on Afghanistan's democratic path, and the courage and resolve of the Afghan people to make their voices heard is a testament to the importance of these elections to securing Afghanistan's future."
The United States has praised the millions of Afghans who voted yesterday.
Turnout was higher than expected after a generally peaceful day of voting, and Washington said the polls were a "significant step" for the country's burgeoning democracy. It hailed "the voters, electoral bodies and security forces for their commitment to the democratic process".
"These elections are a significant step forward on Afghanistan's democratic path, and the courage and resolve of the Afghan people to make their voices heard is a testament to the importance of these elections to securing Afghanistan's future."
05:49
15.6.2014
European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan has also hailed the election, and in particular the Afghan security forces.
06:01
15.6.2014
United Nations
The UN also praised the elections, congratulating the "courageous" Afghans who set out to cast their ballots in the face of Taliban threats.
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Jan Kubis:
The UN also praised the elections, congratulating the "courageous" Afghans who set out to cast their ballots in the face of Taliban threats.
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Jan Kubis:
"With the same determination, resilience and courage the world saw in the first round of elections, the people of Afghanistan today once again decided to take their destiny in their own hands and demonstrate their desire for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Afghanistan."
06:12
15.6.2014
Personal Take
My initial impressions of yesterday's vote after polls closed:
Security
"There weren't any major militant attacks. The Interior Ministry said there were 150 attacks on Afghan security forces. That's around the same number as the first round. Before the vote many observers expected a sharp rise in violence because the election came in the middle of the Taliban's annual spring offensive. But those fears turned out to be unwarranted."
Turnout
"There are indications that the general turnout was lower in today's runoff than in the first round. In Kabul there seemed to be less appetite for voting. The polling stations that I visited were fairly empty and lines were never more than ten people. However, there were huge queues in other parts of the city."
"Encouragingly there were many reports of a rise in the number of female voters casting their ballots especially in the provinces. In Logar and Kandahar, Pashtun dominated areas where women generally vote in lesser numbers there was a big jump in voters.
Fraud
"Scores of videos alleging fraud have also appeared on Facebook and Twitter but the authenticity of these videos is in question. The general feeling here is that less fraud was committed today than in the first round. One explanation for this could be the presence of international monitors in this election. The two candidates also bolstered their team of monitors for the runoff. Both candidates have employed thousands of monitors to ensure fraud is not committed."
Who Will Win?
"The feeling here in Kabul is that the election is on a knife edge, despite Abdullah's commanding lead on Ghani in the first round. Several factors can shape the outcome of this election and tip the balance. First it's how violence affected turnout which is still unclear at this time. The second factor is the level of fraud committed, the extent of which we still don't know."
"Finally there is the question of who Pashtuns voted for. If Ghani wins the majority of Pashtun votes he could yet win the election. If Abdullah, as many predict, gets a healthy chunk of that voting block he should win and become the new president of Afghanistan."
My initial impressions of yesterday's vote after polls closed:
Security
"There weren't any major militant attacks. The Interior Ministry said there were 150 attacks on Afghan security forces. That's around the same number as the first round. Before the vote many observers expected a sharp rise in violence because the election came in the middle of the Taliban's annual spring offensive. But those fears turned out to be unwarranted."
Turnout
"There are indications that the general turnout was lower in today's runoff than in the first round. In Kabul there seemed to be less appetite for voting. The polling stations that I visited were fairly empty and lines were never more than ten people. However, there were huge queues in other parts of the city."
"Encouragingly there were many reports of a rise in the number of female voters casting their ballots especially in the provinces. In Logar and Kandahar, Pashtun dominated areas where women generally vote in lesser numbers there was a big jump in voters.
Fraud
"Scores of videos alleging fraud have also appeared on Facebook and Twitter but the authenticity of these videos is in question. The general feeling here is that less fraud was committed today than in the first round. One explanation for this could be the presence of international monitors in this election. The two candidates also bolstered their team of monitors for the runoff. Both candidates have employed thousands of monitors to ensure fraud is not committed."
Who Will Win?
"The feeling here in Kabul is that the election is on a knife edge, despite Abdullah's commanding lead on Ghani in the first round. Several factors can shape the outcome of this election and tip the balance. First it's how violence affected turnout which is still unclear at this time. The second factor is the level of fraud committed, the extent of which we still don't know."
"Finally there is the question of who Pashtuns voted for. If Ghani wins the majority of Pashtun votes he could yet win the election. If Abdullah, as many predict, gets a healthy chunk of that voting block he should win and become the new president of Afghanistan."
06:23
15.6.2014
From Radio Free Afghanistan and our Prague newsroom:
Afghan officials say a roadside bomb exploded beside a minibus that was carrying Afghan election workers home from voting stations last night, killing 10 adults and a child.
Sediq Azizi, spokesman for the Samangan Province’s governor, told RFE/RL today that four victims were staff from Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission and six were election observers.
Six victims were women and four were men. The attack was near Samangan’s provincial capital, Aybak.
RFE/RL also has confirmed Taliban militants cut off the fingers of 11 people in the western province of Herat to punish them for voting.
As with all Afghan voters, the fingers of those victims had been marked with ink at the polling station prevent them from being able to vote more than once.
At least 46 people were killed in 150 militant attacks across Afghanistan on election day.
Sediq Azizi, spokesman for the Samangan Province’s governor, told RFE/RL today that four victims were staff from Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission and six were election observers.
Six victims were women and four were men. The attack was near Samangan’s provincial capital, Aybak.
RFE/RL also has confirmed Taliban militants cut off the fingers of 11 people in the western province of Herat to punish them for voting.
As with all Afghan voters, the fingers of those victims had been marked with ink at the polling station prevent them from being able to vote more than once.
At least 46 people were killed in 150 militant attacks across Afghanistan on election day.
06:31
15.6.2014
Taliban Cut Off Voters' Fingers
Afghan media outlets are reporting that Taliban militants cut off the fingers of 11 voters in the western city of Herat.
Afghan media outlets are reporting that Taliban militants cut off the fingers of 11 voters in the western city of Herat.
07:09
15.6.2014
Allegations of Fraud
Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani swiftly alleged fraud after the closure of the polls on Saturday.
Abdullah said: "We know there has been fraud, you have seen it, we have seen it."
Ghani called for a full investigation into vote-rigging, saying "unfortunately there were cases of security forces involved in fraud, we have the evidence."
Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani swiftly alleged fraud after the closure of the polls on Saturday.
Abdullah said: "We know there has been fraud, you have seen it, we have seen it."
Ghani called for a full investigation into vote-rigging, saying "unfortunately there were cases of security forces involved in fraud, we have the evidence."
07:15
15.6.2014
Complaints Process
Election Complaints Commission (ECC) spokesman Nadir Mohseni talking about the complaints process:
Election Complaints Commission (ECC) spokesman Nadir Mohseni talking about the complaints process: