Afghanistan goes to the polls today to elect a new President and representatives to about 450 seats in the Provincial Council.
Polling begins at 8 this morning and about 20 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.
The eight candidates are in the fray for the President’s post.
They include :
two former Afghan Foreign Ministers – Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmai Rassoul,
two former Finance Ministers – Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Hidayat Amin Arsala,
Islamist leader Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf,
former Governor Ghul Agha Sherza,
former member of Afghan Parliament Daoud Sultanzoy and
former Hizb-e-Islami leader Qutubuddin Hilal.