Security Concerns High As Taliban Calls For Boycott Of Afghan Vote

A police vehicle drives past trucks carrying voting materials in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on September 16.

The Taliban militia has called for a boycott of Afghanistan's parliamentary election on September 18.

In a statement, the group's leadership called the vote an "illegitimate process" and suggested it was prepared to take "certain measures" to stop it.

The Taliban has carried out dozens of attacks ahead of the vote, killing candidates and campaign workers.

Afghan officials have sought to reassure residents that it will be safe to vote and have boosted security at the country's more than 5,000 polling centers.

More than 2,500 candidates are running for the 249 seats in Afghanistan's lower house of parliament.

The vote is only the second of its kind since the Taliban was ousted from power following the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

compiled from agency reports