Security as voting gets underway in national elections ADDS Karzai, voting

(20 Aug 2009) SHOTLIST 1. Various of Afghan President Hamid Karzai casting vote 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan President: "It's the second presidential and parliamentary election in Afghanistan and I'm sure that, Inshallah (God willing), this will be for peace, for progress and for the well being of the Afghan people and I request the Afghan people to come out and vote so that, through their vote, Afghanistan can be more secure, more peaceful, and a better country." 3. Karzai leaving polling station; UPSOUND (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan president: "No violence. Vote, no violence" 4. Wide of Kabul street 5. Wide of Afghan police at road block 6. Low short of Afghan police officer holding automatic weapon 7. Close-up of Afghan police officer 8. Various of Afghan police at road block as cars drive through 9. Various of Afghan police searching car passengers and vehicle 10. Close-up of Afghan police officer 11. Low shot of cars driving past with gun in shot STORYLINE Afghan President Hamid Karzai, wearing his traditional purple and green striped robe, cast his vote in Kabul on Thursday in national elections marred by the shadow of Taliban threats of violence. Karzai voted at 7 a.m. (0230GMT). He dipped a finger in indelible ink - a fraud prevention measure - and held it up for the cameras. "I request the Afghan people to come out and vote so through their vote Afghanistan will be more secure, more peaceful," Karzai said. "Vote. No violence," he added as he left the polling station. Afghans voted under the shadow of Taliban threats of violence on Thursday to choose a new president for a nation plagued by armed insurgency, drugs, corruption and a feeble government nearly eight years after the US-led invasion. Karzai, who has held power since the Taliban was ousted eight years ago, is favoured to finish first among 36 official candidates, although a late surge by former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah could force a runoff if no one wins more than 50 percent. Turnout, particularly in the violent south, will be key to the vote's success - the country's second direct presidential election. Taliban militants have pledged to disrupt the vote and circulated threats that those who cast ballots will be punished. Early indications in Kabul pointed to a low initial turnout, perhaps as people assessed whether casting ballots was safe. An Associated Press reporter who visited six polling centres in the capital said he saw no lines at any of them. Afghan police officers set up road blocks in the capital city of Kabul and carried out extensive searches. International officials have predicted an imperfect election, but expressed hope that Afghans would accept it as legitimate -a key component of President Barack Obama's war strategy. Preliminary results were expected to be announced in Kabul on Saturday. Violence has risen sharply in Afghanistan in the last three years, and the US now has more than 60-thousand forces in the country, close to eight years after the US invasion following the attacks of Sept. 11 2001. On the eve of the balloting, the US military announced the deaths of six more Americans - putting August on track to become the deadliest month for American forces since the war began. Rising death tolls underscore the urgency of establishing a strong, effective government to stem the growing Taliban insurgency. Karzai, a favourite of the Bush administration, won in 2004 with 55.4 percent of the vote, riding into office on a wave of public optimism after decades of war and ruinous Taliban rule. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...