05/04/2014 10:36
Afghanistan votes in historic presidential election
Afghans have begun voting for a new president in what will be the nation's first ever transfer of power through the ballot box, the BBC reported.
A massive security operation is under way to thwart the Taliban which has vowed to disrupt the election.
Eight candidates are vying to succeed Hamid Karzai, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term as president.
The poll has already been overshadowed by the shooting of two journalists.
Award-winning German photographer Anja Niedringhaus was killed and veteran Canadian reporter Kathy Gannon was injured when a police commander opened fire on their car in the eastern town of Khost on Friday. They had both worked for Associated Press for many years.
It was the latest in a string of deadly attacks that marred the lead-up to the election.
Some polling stations in the provinces of Herat in the west and Kapisa, north-east of Kabul, were closed because of a combination of the bad weather and security risks. There were also reports elsewhere of several polling centres not receiving ballot materials in time.
However, the BBC's Karen Allen in northern Afghanistan says that voting appears to be brisk, with large queues forming as people wait to cast their ballot.