Violence and threats as Afghan election campaign begins

Fear of attack by Taliban-led rebels kept many candidates off the streets today as Afghanistan kicked off the official campaign period for landmark September 18 legislative elections, the war-torn country’s next step toward democracy.

In the capital Kabul, a handful of hopeful politicians stumped for votes, but in former Taliban strongholds in the country’s south, candidates stayed home, fearful of the rebels who are bent on sabotaging the polls.