Voting for Afghan presidential runoff begins

The voting process began at 7:00 a.m. local time and would last till 4:00 p.m.According to officials with the Election Commission, the voting process would be extended if situation requires.

People in long queues are seen waiting at polling stations to cast votes. The runoff election will decide whether former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah or ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani leads the country into a new era with declining international military and civilian assistance.

Around 7 million out of some 12 million eligible to vote had used their right of suffrage in the April 5 first-round presidential elections and the same number is expected in the second round of balloting. Taliban militants who had failed to derail the April 5 presidential elections have vowed to disrupt the June 14 presidential runoff.

In his message after casting vote, Nuristani called upon people to cast their votes and elect the country's next president.

"This is an important and historic day for all Afghans and I am hopeful that the people by vast participation and high turnout to polling centers reject militancy and decide their future destination by electing their next president," Nuristani said.

Final results of the runoff polls will be announced on July 22 and the swearing-in ceremony for the next president to succeed outgoing President Hamid Karzai will be held on August 2.

Source: Xinhua