Presidential hopefuls rally Afghan supporters

TOP candidates in the Afghan presidential race yesterday addressed rallies attended by thousands of cheering supporters on the last day of campaigning for key elections overshadowed by Taliban threats.

Afghanistan’s 17 million voters go to the polls on Thursday to elect a president for the second time in history and 420 councillors in 34 provinces, in a massive logistical operation handicapped by rampant insecurity.

President Hamid Karzai, who has ruled since the late 2001 US-led invasion overthrew the Taliban regime, is front-runner to win, but a strong campaign from former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah has raised the chance of a run-off.