AS trucks, helicopters and donkeys carried ballots to counting centres across Afghanistan yesterday, evidence that turnout was sharply lower than in last year’s presidential vote undermined celebrations of the polling as a key step toward stability.

As heavily guarded convoys hauled ballots from landmark legislative elections across Afghanistan’s rugged terrain today, evidence that turnout was sharply lower than in last year’s presidential vote undermined celebrations of the polling as a key step toward stability.

Afghans chose a legislature for the first time in decades today, embracing their newly recovered democratic rights and braving threats of Taliban attacks to cast votes in schools, tents and mosques.

Afghans chose a legislature for the first time in decades today, embracing their newly recovered democratic rights and braving threats of Taliban attacks to cast votes in schools, tents and mosques.

Only about 16% of eligible Iraqi voters living outside their country have registered for next weekend’s elections and the largest turnout so far has been in Iran, organisers said.