Taliban disguised as police killed five UN workers after storming their living quarters in Kabul today in an effort to disrupt the forthcoming presidential election.

Taliban militants wearing suicide vests stormed a guest house used by UN staff in the heart of the Afghan capital early today, killing 12 people – including six UN staff – in the biggest in a series of attacks intended to undermine next month’s presidential run-off election.

The Netherlands and Denmark today announced a block on sending more troops to Afghanistan unless its election run-off creates a legitimate government and until President Barack Obama decides on a new strategy.

THE main challenger to President Hamid Karzai yesterday urged action to prevent a repeat of massive fraud that compromised Afghanistan’s elections as officials warned the run-off faced major challenges.

AFGHANISTAN’S election commission has ordered a November 7 run-off in the disputed presidential poll after a fraud investigation dropped incumbent Hamid Karzai’s votes below 50% of the total. Karzai accepted the finding and agreed to a second-round vote.

The fraud-tainted Afghan election that cost a large slice of credibility for current president Hamid Karzai is to go to a second round, it was decided today.

Afghanistan's election commission today ordered a run-off election for November 7 after a fraud investigation dropped President Hamid Karzai's votes from the first round below 50% of the total.

The top UN official in Afghanistan acknowledged “widespread fraud” in the disputed presidential election and rejected allegations from a former deputy that he covered up cheating to smooth the path to victory for President Hamid Karzai.

THE top UN official in Afghanistan acknowledged yesterday there was “widespread fraud” in the August presidential election, responding to allegations by a former deputy that he had tried to downplay charges of ballot-stuffing by supporters of the incumbent.

A top American official at the United Nations mission in Afghanistan has temporarily left the country following a disagreement with his boss over how to respond to the massive allegations of vote fraud in the August 20 presidential election, officials said today.

AFGHANISTAN prepared to roll out partial results from a hotly contested election marred by allegations of massive fraud and tensions as President Hamid Karzai and his top rival claimed the lead.

Afghanistan’s election was hailed by the West as a victory for democracy as millions defied threats to cast ballots in the country’s second national elections since Taliban rule.

Afghanistan’s voters were confronted with Taliban threats and lethal attacks today as they turned out to select a president in an election that could decide the future of them and their Western allies.

A remote-controlled bomb targeting a police convoy killed 12 people today in western Afghanistan, a day after three American soldiers died in a complex militant ambush in the country’s east.

The top United Nations official in Afghanistan called today for talks with Taliban leaders at the highest level, another indication that parts of the international community are reaching out to the radical Islamist movement.

Preparations are in full swing in the run-up to the presidential elections in Afghanistan next month and no effort will be spared to ensure security, said the United Nations.

A suicide bomber in a vehicle attacked a convoy carrying Afghan doctors working for the United Nations in southern Afghanistan today, killing two doctors and their driver and wounding 15 other people, officials said.

Police and NATO-led peacekeepers are investigating three blasts that rocked the centre of Kosovo's capital, Pristina, overnight, near buildings occupied by the UN and the provincial government.