Afghan election ‘victory over violence’

Trucks and donkeys loaded with ballot boxes made their way to counting centres as Afghans and the international community sighed with relief that national elections were held without major violence despite a Taliban threat.

Millions of Afghans crowded into mosques and schools to vote on Saturday for a new president and provincial councils. President Hamid Karzai is on his way out, constitutionally barred from a third term after leading the country since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

The international community praised the vote and high turnout, despite complaints about a shortage of ballots and reports of fraud.