Afghanistan election: country on high alert as voting begins

Polls have opened in Afghanistan on Thursday hours after President Hamid Karzai called on Afghans to defy Taliban threats and vote. The poll will test Mr Karzai's own mandate and his nation's fragile democracy. It is also a significant political hurdle for US President Barack Obama, who has ordered a massive troop build-up this year as part of a strategy to reverse Taliban gains.

Streets in the Afghan capital were tense and police were out on round-the-clock shifts as voting began. A convoy of vehicles carrying EU election observers and journalists visiting an Afghan polling station was hit by a roadside bomb. A small improvised explosive device (IED) went off as an armoured car was driving past the governor's compound in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

At around the same time on Thursday, about 7.25am (3.55am British time), a mortar was fired near the British military headquarters in Lashkar Gah.

Sporadic attacks hit other Afghan towns as polls opened for the anxiously awaited presidential election that Taliban fighters have vowed to disrupt, but the United Nations said the turnout was encouraging.

"The vast majority of polling stations have been able to open and have received voting materials," said Aleem Siddique, spokesman for the UN mission in Kabul.

"There have been a number of attacks, particularly in the south and east of the country. But we are seeing queues forming at polling stations in the north, also in the capital, as well as, encouragingly, in the east."

Polls opened hours after Afghan tribal leaders accused Mr Karzai's officials of offering them large cash payments to support his campaign and help rig the vote in today's presidential election.

An official complaint seen by The Daily Telegraph alleges that a named government official gave elders up to $8,000 (£4,800) to organise militiamen to "protect" polling stations during voting and told them they were expected to support Mr Karzai.

According to Western diplomats, Mr Karzai's government has set aside $8 million to pay tribal leaders to patrol polling stations in areas under Taliban control. His opponents claim the money is part of a "slush fund" to buy votes and "steal the election". They have complained that tribal fighters, known as "auxiliary policemen", are being recruited by a relative of Mr Karzai, and their presence at polling stations will lead to intimidation and prevent independent monitoring.

Elders in Paktia and Nangahar in eastern Afghanistan have complained that government officials who came to recruit fighters at $160 (£100) each told them they would be expected to organise the vote for Mr Karzai.

The government has said it has already recruited 10,000 fighters, making the total cost $1.6 million. The alleged $8 million budget would allow more than 57,000 tribal fighters to be recruited.

On Wednesday, Taliban fighters stormed a government-owned bank in the heart of Kabul. Police laid siege to the building and killed three militants during fierce fighting.