Taliban vows to hit Afghan polling sites
Source: Agencies |
September 6, 2010, Monday
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THE Taliban vowed yesterday to attack polling places in September 18 parliamentary elections, warning Afghans not to participate in what it called a sham vote.
Meanwhile, two coalition soldiers - at least one of them British - were killed in fighting in the turbulent south, while a political rival of President Hamid Karzai questioned his approach to pending talks with rebels who might be persuaded to abandon the insurgency.
The threat issued yesterday comes just under two weeks before the vote and follows the announcement of a final list of polling places to be opened around the country.
"It is only to the benefit of foreigners who want to maintain their existence in the country by holding such a process and we believe that the people will not get any benefit out of it," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
"That's why we announced to the local people that all Afghan people should boycott this election and they should not participate on the polling date," Mujahid said.
The Taliban position is consistent with those it has taken in the past. The insurgents seek to topple the government in Kabul and drive foreign troops from the country, and have boycotted or sought to sabotage all aspects of the political process.
Taliban threats and intimidation drove down voter turnout in last year's fraud-marred presidential election, especially in rural areas, and many Afghans this time say they won't vote for fear of attacks.
Election officials plan to open 5,897 voting sites. Last year, 6,167 voting centers nominally operated.
Voters will choose 249 members of the lower house of parliament from over 2,500 candidates.
Meanwhile, two coalition soldiers - at least one of them British - were killed in fighting in the turbulent south, while a political rival of President Hamid Karzai questioned his approach to pending talks with rebels who might be persuaded to abandon the insurgency.
The threat issued yesterday comes just under two weeks before the vote and follows the announcement of a final list of polling places to be opened around the country.
"It is only to the benefit of foreigners who want to maintain their existence in the country by holding such a process and we believe that the people will not get any benefit out of it," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
"That's why we announced to the local people that all Afghan people should boycott this election and they should not participate on the polling date," Mujahid said.
The Taliban position is consistent with those it has taken in the past. The insurgents seek to topple the government in Kabul and drive foreign troops from the country, and have boycotted or sought to sabotage all aspects of the political process.
Taliban threats and intimidation drove down voter turnout in last year's fraud-marred presidential election, especially in rural areas, and many Afghans this time say they won't vote for fear of attacks.
Election officials plan to open 5,897 voting sites. Last year, 6,167 voting centers nominally operated.
Voters will choose 249 members of the lower house of parliament from over 2,500 candidates.
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