Counting begins in Afghan poll tainted by fraud and violence

AFGHANISTAN was counting votes yesterday in parliamentary elections tainted by allegations of fraud and low voter turnout after widespread and deadly Taliban violence targeted the poll.

Western supporters praised the more than four million Afghans who, according to preliminary figures, took part in Saturday’s election.

The bodies of three election workers were found yesterday in northern Balkh province, following the country’s second parliamentary polls since the Taliban’s ousting in 2001.