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Afghanistan vote date announced Afghanistan vote date announced
(10 minutes later)
Afghanistan will hold presidential elections on 20 August, the country's election commission has announced.Afghanistan will hold presidential elections on 20 August, the country's election commission has announced.
Under the country's constitution, the vote should have been held in May, but reports say the deteriorating security situation has prompted a delay.Under the country's constitution, the vote should have been held in May, but reports say the deteriorating security situation has prompted a delay.
This will be only the second time Afghanistan will hold elections to choose a head of the state.This will be only the second time Afghanistan will hold elections to choose a head of the state.
The delay has come as little surprise - parts of the country remain unsafe to hold a peaceful election.The delay has come as little surprise - parts of the country remain unsafe to hold a peaceful election.
Large parts of the south and the east of the country are simply too unsafe to conduct a free or fair ballot there at this time, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul.Large parts of the south and the east of the country are simply too unsafe to conduct a free or fair ballot there at this time, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul.
Even the process of registering people to vote has had to be put on hold in some districts.Even the process of registering people to vote has had to be put on hold in some districts.
The hope is that the injection of thousands of extra US troops will create a safer environment for elections to take place.The hope is that the injection of thousands of extra US troops will create a safer environment for elections to take place.
But some leading political figures in Kabul are sceptical that this can be done in such a short space of time.But some leading political figures in Kabul are sceptical that this can be done in such a short space of time.
The constitution says elections should be held by May although the government says that can be extended under exceptional circumstances.
There are a number of potential challengers to President Hamid Karzai, whose popularity has steadily fallen.There are a number of potential challengers to President Hamid Karzai, whose popularity has steadily fallen.
He has been looking increasingly isolated in the last few weeks with growing tensions between him and the new administration in Washington.He has been looking increasingly isolated in the last few weeks with growing tensions between him and the new administration in Washington.
Some have suggested that rather than an election, there should be a loya jirga, or tribal meeting, to anoint a new leader - but for now that looks like a remote possibility.Some have suggested that rather than an election, there should be a loya jirga, or tribal meeting, to anoint a new leader - but for now that looks like a remote possibility.
The country has staked its future on a democratic path and although progress has been limited and deeply flawed there seem few other alternatives at this time to a second presidential election - delayed or not.The country has staked its future on a democratic path and although progress has been limited and deeply flawed there seem few other alternatives at this time to a second presidential election - delayed or not.