Taliban Threatens Violence During Afghan Vote
VOA News
16 September 2010
The Taliban is repeating its threat of violence during Saturday's parliamentary vote in Afghanistan.
The militant group said Thursday it planned to attack polling stations throughout the country and urged Afghans to boycott the elections.
Close to 2,500 candidates are vying for 249 seats in the lower house of parliament, or Wolesi Jirga.
Insurgents have already killed at least three parliamentary candidates and several campaign workers in the run-up to the September 18 vote.
Despite the threat, Afghan government officials are assuring voters of their safety as they head to the polls.
More than 250,000 Afghan police and troops will be deployed to protect polling centers across the country. They will be backed by international troops.
On Thursday, NATO said an insurgent attack killed one of its service members in southern Afghanistan.
NATO also said a coalition airstrike killed eight militants in northern Kunduz province late Wednesday. The operation targeted a Taliban district commander who NATO says was planning attacks to disrupt Saturday's parliamentary elections.
In the southern province of Uruzgan, NATO says coalition troops shot a protester armed with an AK-47 who was trying to enter a military base. NATO says the protester was among 100 demonstrators throwing stones at coalition forces during a protest against the burning of Qurans. It was unclear if the man died.
In addition to security, officials have also raised concerns about the legitimacy of the parliamentary vote.
Last year's presidential election was marred by allegations of widespread fraud, with one-third of ballots cast for President Hamid Karzai thrown out. Former Afghan foreign minister and the runner-up in the presidential vote, Abdullah Abdullah, on Thursday urged Afghans to cast their votes in large numbers in order to help prevent fraud.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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