Taliban cut off inked fingers in intimidation campaign

THE Taliban are cutting the inked fingers off voters following the Afghan election in an effort to intimidate citizens from participating in any second round of presidential voting, EU ministers were told.

The results of the first round of the August 20 ballot have not been released amid reports of wholescale rigging, ballot box stuffing and intimidation. The Afghan election commission is investigating 2,700 complaints and EU observers have reported that in areas where there were just 27 registered voters over 20,000 ballots were returned.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the Taliban were committing atrocities including cutting off fingers of voters and hanging people outside polling stations.