Official Says One-Third Of Kabul Voters Cast Ballots

An Afghan voter casts his ballot 22 September 2005 -- A top election official says only about one-third of Kabul's registered voters appear to have cast ballots in <a href="/featuresarticle/2005/09/a2195e3b-c885-4d7a-8398-3c0081cd59f8.html">landmark legislative elections<a>.

Peter Erben, chief electoral officer of UN-Afghan body that organized the polls, said today that reports from nearly all polling centers across Afghanistan indicate some 6.6 million voters cast ballots. That, said Erben, would put the national turnout in the 18 September polls at about 53 percent.

However, Erben estimated turnout in Kabul and the surrounding province at just 36 percent.

In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush called the election "positive news for the world."

(compiled from news agencies)

For RFE/RL's full coverage of the legislative elections in Afghanistan, see "Afghanistan Votes"