The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • World
  • National
  • Politics
  • National Security
  • DC Area
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Investigations
  • Faith
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Headlines
  • Citizen Journalism
  • National

    PRUDEN: Obama's due process doctrine

  • National

    U.S. links 8 to Somali terrorist group

  • Business

    Home sales surge 10.1 percent in October

  • Local

    Fenty trails Gray in D.C. poll

  • Politics

    S.C. governor faces 37 ethics violations

  • National

    China holds lawyer who tried to see Obama

  • World

    Israel-Hamas prisoner swap talks advance

Home » News » World

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Tribal guards add little

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

Violence continues despite election-day security

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
An Afghan policeman checks a man at the entrance to a polling center in Kabul on election day, Aug. 20. Extra security did not deter violence at numerous polling stations.
  • AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES 
An Afghan policeman stands guard outside a polling center in Kandahar on Aug. 20.

More World Stories

  • Obama: U.S.-Indian ties help define 21st century
  • 6.8-magnitude underwater quake off Tonga
  • WH: Obama Afghan decision 'within days'
  • Ousted Zelaya on sideline in Honduran vote

By Jessica Weinstein THE WASHINGTON TIMES

MAIDAN-SHA, Afghanistan | An Afghan government plan to pay tribal guards for extra security on election day does not appear to have diminished violence across the nation, and it remains unclear how many actually showed up to protect polling sites.

Mohammad Halim Fidai, governor of Wardak province, west of Kabul, said 15,000 guards had pledged to work in 17 high-risk provinces. But a week after the vote, the Independent Directorate for the Protection of Public Property and Highways Through Tribal Support - the agency responsible for hiring the men - still could not provide figures.

"I can't tell you how many [worked] for all of Afghanistan," said Arif Noorzai, who heads the directorate, to The Washington Times.

Sherwali Wardak, representative for the directorate in Wardak of the same name, said he has a list of names but has yet to identify who provided election security.

"Now we must figure out who actually worked," he said.

Voter turnout, particularly in the southern part of the country, was low, and grenade and rocket attacks were reported at numerous polling stations. Combined with widespread allegations of fraud, the election results appear unlikely to shore up the legitimacy of the Afghan central government. Both incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his chief challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, have claimed to be leading. A final tally is not expected for several weeks. If neither man gets 50 percent of the vote, there will be a run-off in October.

No Western election observers contacted for this story observed any militia forces around polling locations. Guards were promised $160 for their work - a huge sum in Afghanistan - and it is not clear what will happen to these funds if those who turned out cannot be identified.

Nematullah Habib, representative for the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) in Wardak, told The Times that "my polling workers didn't see any of the tribal or mahali police. They didn't help us."

Provincial police chief Gen. Muzafardeen disputed that claim, saying that 540 guards did, in fact, show up as promised to six high-risk districts across the province.

Election day was violent, however, with 80 rockets fired.

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Please login or register to post a comment

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner
  3. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
  4. EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVE: On terrorists, Justice recused
  5. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
More Top Stories »
  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  3. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  4. Company that repaired Chairman Gray's house lacked license
  5. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. The United Socialist States of America
  3. Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner
  4. Ego of 'O': It's all about him
  5. PRUDEN: Obama's due process doctrine
More Top Stories »
  1. Tea Party react: Conservatives seek litmus test for RNC funding
  2. Fenty trails Gray in D.C. poll
  3. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  4. LETTER TO EDITOR: When family ties die
  5. EDITORIAL: Death for being a Christian

Most Commented

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner
  3. Lobbyists spending big to shape health care debate
  4. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  5. Tea Party react: Conservatives seek litmus test for RNC funding
More Top Stories »
  1. PRUDEN: Obama's due process doctrine
  2. Schumer: Dems will pass health bill alone
  3. Green energy stimulus growing few jobs
  4. EDITORIAL: Schumer's change of heart
  5. Ego of 'O': It's all about him

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Question of the day

Do you think the White House should have invited more Republicans to the state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh?

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Snyder takes a question

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.