PAN, September 23, 2010

64 killed in north on election day

A former commander of the now defunct Northern Alliance, he said anti-government elements conducted 103 attacks on Saturday

By Zabihullah Ehsas

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): A senior police official said on Thursday 64 people were killed and dozens others injured during Saturday's parliamentary election in the north.

Commander of 303rd Pamir Police Headquarters, Gen. Daud Daud, told a press conference the casualties happened in a string of incidents in the north, a relatively peaceful part of the war-torn country.

He said 96 percent of 1,654 polling centres in nine northern provinces were open on the election day. In Jawzjan, 11 polling centres were closed because of security concerns.

A former commander of the now defunct Northern Alliance, he said anti-government elements conducted 103 attacks on Saturday.

He said 22 civilians were killed and 49 others, mostly women and children, injured in 28 explosions in the provinces. As many as 48 fighters were killed, 17 injured and 13 arrested on the election day.

While maintaining security of polling centres, four local police were also killed, Gen. Daud recalled. He said police had arrested two government officials for allegedly committing fraud in the election.

"Overall, the election in the north was conducted well and ballot papers in 114 districts have been counted so far," he concluded.

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