Afghans Vote as First Democratic Transfer of Power Seen
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Afghans braved threats of violence today to cast ballots in an election that may mark the nation’s first democratic transfer of power since the U.S. ousted the Taliban in 2001.
Eight candidates competed to succeed President Hamid Karzai, who has delayed signing a pact that’s needed to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond this year. At least 54 Taliban militants were killed in a clash with Afghan national police while they were trying to target some polling centers in eastern Ghanzni province, according to the interior ministry.