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Taliban Battle Police in Kabul on Election Eve

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 19, 2009 6:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Taliban fighters wearing explosive-laced vests stormed a government-run bank in central Kabul today, precipitating an hours-long shootout with Afghan forces 24 hours before the presidential election. A Taliban source said that 20 militants had entered Kabul, a day after a suicide bomb and a rocket attack rocked the capital. Afghan officials continue to press for a media blackout on election violence, fearing a depressed turnout.

The Taliban have threatened to cut off the fingers—stained in indelible ink—of anyone who goes to the polls tomorrow. But international organizations are eager for a credible election, and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon called on Afghans to vote despite the threat. Current polls predict Hamid Karzai will win 45% of the vote and Abdullah Abdullah 25%, necessitating an October runoff.

Afghan soldiers drag the dead body of a militant down the stairs of a bank in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009 after gun battles broke out between Afghan forces and three militants who overran a bank.
Afghan soldiers drag the dead body of a militant down the stairs of a bank in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009 after gun battles broke out between Afghan forces and three militants who overran a bank.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Afghan police carry the bodies of three suspected insurgents in the back of a truck after they were killed in a gunfight in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Gunfire and explosions reverberated through the heart of the Afghan capital Wednesday on the eve of the presidential election after three militants...
Afghan police carry the bodies of three suspected insurgents in the back of a truck after they were killed in a gunfight in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Gunfire and explosions reverberated through...   (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Afghan police carry the bodies of three suspected insurgents in the back of a truck after they were killed in a gunfight in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
Afghan police carry the bodies of three suspected insurgents in the back of a truck after they were killed in a gunfight in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
An Afghan police officer stands guard as a worker waits after unloading ballot boxes and election kits at a school on the outskirts of Kabul,Tuesday Aug. 18, 2009.
An Afghan police officer stands guard as a worker waits after unloading ballot boxes and election kits at a school on the outskirts of Kabul,Tuesday Aug. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Afghans have breakfast along a wall covered with election campaign posters in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, on the eve of the presidential elections.
Afghans have breakfast along a wall covered with election campaign posters in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, on the eve of the presidential elections.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Gun battles broke out between Afghan forces and three militants with AK-47 rifles and hand grenades who overran the bank. Police stormed the building and killed the three insurgents.
Gun battles broke out between Afghan forces and three militants with AK-47 rifles and hand grenades who overran the bank. Police stormed the building and killed the three insurgents.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
An Afghan man and boy look out form their window as an Afghan counter-terrorism officer stands guard.
An Afghan man and boy look out form their window as an Afghan counter-terrorism officer stands guard.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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Afghanistan • Taliban • Hamid Karzai • suicide bombing • Kabul • Ban Ki-moon • insurgency • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

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