Fears as Afghanistan heads to polls

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Up to 17 million Afghans are registered to vote but many are expected to be too scared to turn out after warnings of violent reprisals if they do.

The Taliban has repeatedly threatened to disrupt the elections, and there have been a series of attacks around the country in recent days.

Six US troops and at least six Afghan election officials were killed on the eve of the polls, while police killed three Taliban militants who took over a bank in the capital, Kabul.

Hamid Karzai, the current president, is the clear front runner in the poll but observers say it is impossible to predict whether he will win the 50% of the vote he needs to avoid a second round.

Mr Karzai was among the first to vote. Wearing his traditional purple and green striped robe, he dipped a finger in indelible ink - a fraud prevention measure - and held it up for the cameras.

"I request from the Afghan people to come out and vote so through their vote Afghanistan will be more secure, more peaceful," Mr Karzai said. "Vote. No violence."

Turnout is expected to be relatively high in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, but it is likely many people in rural areas have been scared off.

Security is tight at Helmand's 107 polling centres, which are being protected by Afghan police and soldiers, with British and other foreign troops keeping a low profile but ready to assist.

The Taliban has warned that any Afghans whose fingers are stained with the indelible ink used in the ballot will have the offending digit cut off. There were even discussions about whether the ink should be used in Helmand, but ultimately election officials ruled it was essential to prevent fraud.