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Journalism of Courage
Leading Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah hailed 8220;a day of change8221; as he cast his ballot in a bid to unseat his main rival President Hamid Karzai.
Abdullah voted at a Kabul polling station alongside his wife and young son amid a throng of journalists and security men.
8220;It is a day of change,a day of hope,8221; the former foreign minister told reporters after he cast his ballot. Although there are 41 names on the presidential ballot paper,11 of the candidates have pulled out in favour of others.
Abdullah is considered the top challenger to Karzai8217;s bid for a second term with some polls predicting he alone can stop the incumbent from securing the more than 50 percent of the vote he needs to avoid a run-off. Abdullah said the vote the second presidential election in turbulent Afghanistan was a 8220;positive8221; occasion but worried about attacks from insurgents bent on disrupting the election.
In Kabul,police killed two gunmen during a nearly two-hour standoff,in an apparent bid to dissuade Afghans from going to the polling stations. Abdullah also alleged violations in Karzai8217;s campaign,which has been accused of misusing government resources for the vote.
