AFGHANISTAN - Happy Elections

September 18:
On the first day of the general elections in Afghanistan, more than 200 acts of intimidation by the Taliban have been observed. Afghanistan's president Karzai is among the lucky voters who remain undisturbed by Taliban insurgents.


Detailed News:

- Detonation in a voting center of Jalalabad, the capital of Nanghrahar province in Eastern Afghanistan. Armed Taliban press citizens to refrain from voting.

- The Taliban launch some attacks in Kabul and provide obstacles in order to intimidate voters.
















The Day Before

The following video was published one day before the general elections in Afghanistan. It includes the following features:
- Taliban approaching a public building in order to post up their proclamation opposing the elections.
- A traffic hold-up by the Taliban.
- President Karzai and a traffic hold-up by Afghan police in Kabul.



The Doomed Elections

Millions of fake identity cards, made in Pakistan, will probably influence the general election results in Afghanistan. One election nominee, representing Nanghrahar province that is bordering Pakistan, sees Pakistani Security behind that fraud. He, therefore, demands the national elections being postponed until this problem has been solved.

This might be one of the subjects Afghan president Karzai will put on the agenda during his visit to Islamabad which began shortly before the elections on September 15.



On September 15 and only some days ahead of the national elections in Afghanistan, an Al-Jazeera special "Behind the News" was dedicated to the following subject:
A continuously appearing phenomenon: The boycott of elections in
the Arabic World on behalf of the opposition parties which is called
a "command of retreat" by the governments involved.



A suicide bomber among the Taliban waiting for his order of engagement. According to his military commander, he should be activated during the general elections in Afghanistan that are planned to take place next week.
Source: Al-Jazeera, September 8, 2010.



Because of a general degradation of public security in Afghanistan and in the aftermath of an al-Qaeda attack on the Central Bank of Afghanistan on June 17, worried account holders in Kabul want their money back. Therefore, the National Bank has been temporarily closed. Furious clients are held back by security personnel.
Source: Al-Jazeera, September 8, 2010.