Thursday, February 16, 2012

Afghanistan

Karzai Travels To Campaign Rally Outside Kabul

5 October 2004 -- Afghan Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai traveled to a campaign rally outside Kabul today, four days ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election.

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October 05, 2004

Reports said Karzai was greeted by an estimated 5,000 peopple when he arrived in a public park in the town of Ghazni, some 100 kilometers south of the capital. Security was reported very tight, with truckloads of soldiers on the streets, roads blocked, and heavy searches of everyone entering the gardens.

Karzai last month had to cancel a campaign trip to southeastern Afghanistan when a rocket was fired at his helicopter as it tried to land near the town of Gardez.

Karzai is widely expected to win the 9 October election against 17 other candidates.

His main rival, former Education Minister Yunos Qanuni, was campaigning at a rally in Kabul today attended by an estimated 2,000 people.

(AFP)

For full coverage of Afghanistan's 9 October presidential elections, see RFE/RL's webpage Afghanistan votes 2004-05

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