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Afghanistan extends election to Sunday due to chaos at polling stations

Reuters
AfghanistanUpdated: Oct 20, 2018, 02:25 PM IST
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Photograph:(Reuters)

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Abdul Badi Sayad, chairman of Independent Election Commission said the voting process will continue till Sunday in those places where election officers or election material arrived late.

Voting in Afghanistan's parliamentary election will be extended to Sunday in some constituencies after technical and organizational problems stopped voters casting their ballot in some polling centres on Saturday, government officials said.

Abdul Badi Sayad, chairman of Independent Election Commission said the voting process will continue till Sunday in those places where election officers or election material arrived late.

Confusion over biometric voter registration equipment, polling stations not opening on time, missing election materials and delays forcing lengthy waits angered voters on Saturday.

Meanwhile, multiple explosions rocked polling centres across Kabul on Saturday, causing dozens of casualties,  amid growing anger among voters as they waited hours to cast their ballots in long-delayed legislative elections.

At least 30 people have been taken to a trauma hospital run by the Italian NGO Emergency, including a dead child, the organisation said on Twitter, hours after the Taliban warned voters to boycott the ballot "to protect their lives".

Afghan officials confirmed there have been casualties but would not provide a number.