Security alert for Afghan election

MORE than 100,000 Afghan and foreign security forces were on high alert yesterday on the eve of the country's first direct presidential election after more than two decades of war.

Despite a 24-hour flurry of rocket attacks, fears that Taliban or al-Qaida rebels would launch a massive assault to disrupt voting had not materialised.

It was welcome news in a country that faces a massive task in pulling off its first democratic vote.