Vote count begins in Afghan elections

Counting of votes cast in Afghanistan’s historic parliamentary elections began today, hours after al-Qaida’s No.2 criticised the legitimacy of the vote in a tape aired on Arabic television.

Trucks, helicopters and even donkeys were bringing the estimated six million ballots from far-flung regions for counting over the next two weeks to decide the make-up of Afghanistan’s first new parliament in more than 30 years.