Rebels attack as Afghans go to the polls

Afghans chose a legislature for the first time in decades today, embracing their newly recovered democratic rights and braving threats of Taliban attacks to cast votes in schools, tents and mosques.

Violence killed at least 10 people around Afghanistan, trying to claw its way back from more than a quarter-century of conflict. Another two dozen died in the previous two days, including a French commando when his vehicle struck a mine, but there was no spectacular attack that officials had feared from Taliban militants who had vowed to disrupt the vote.