Saudi Arabia imposes SR100,000 fine on Hajj and Umrah firms for not reporting visa overstays    US defends tariffs on remote island of penguins and seals    Israeli protesters urge Netanyahu to secure hostage deal during meeting with Trump    Palestinian teen died in Israeli prison after suffering 'likely prolonged malnutrition', autopsy finds    Saudi U-17s qualify for 2025 FIFA World Cup after win over Thailand    The Seven Dogs wraps filming in Riyadh with a budget exceeding $40 million    Trump's crackdown on university protests is casting a long shadow    Al-Jasser: work is underway to restructure and develop aviation infrastructure    Virtual Notary Public provided over1.4 million digital documentation services in 2024    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sporadic attacks across Afghanistan as polls open
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 20 - 08 - 2009


Sporadic attacks hit Afghan towns
as polls opened on Thursday for an anxiously awaited
presidential election that Taliban fighters have vowed to
disrupt, but the United Nations said the turnout was
encouraging, Reuters reported.
"The vast majority of polling stations have been able to
open and have received voting materials," said Aleem Siddique,
spokesman for the U.N. mission in Kabul.
"There have been a number of attacks, particularly in the
south and east of the country. But we are seeing queues forming
at polling stations in the north, also in the capital, as well
as, encouragingly, in the east."
Shops and businesses were closed and around-the-clock
squads of extra police checked the few cars on the streets in
Kabul.
President Hamid Karzai was one of the first to vote in an
election which could prove the toughest test yet of his own
mandate and his nation's fragile democracy.
He cast his ballot under tight security in a polling
station at a high school near his presidential palace in Kabul,
telling reporters he hoped for an outright majority in a
single round.
"One round will be in the interest of the nation," he said.
Karzai faces an unexpectedly strong challenge from his
former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah. Polls show Karzai
winning by a strong margin, but possibly falling short of an
outright majority and a second round run-off likely in
October.Official preliminary results are not expected for at
least two weeks.
-- SPA


Clic here to read the story from its source.