WEB DESK
Afghans voted in presidential elections today, even as insurgents attacked polling centres in a series of blasts and clashes broke out across the country that left at least two people dead.
The first-round vote marks the culmination of a bloody election campaign that despite a large field of candidates is seen as a close race between President Ashraf Ghani and his bitter rival Abdullah Abdullah, the country’s chief executive.
A security official who requested anonymity told AFP news agency that two civilians had been killed and 27 wounded in Taliban bombings and mortar attacks at polling centres across the country.
Observers from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said turnout appeared to be low, especially among women.
Results are not expected until October 19. Candidates need more than 50 per cent of the vote to be declared the outright winner, or else the top two will head for the second round in November.