Under a cloud of violence and fraud, Afghans vote

Afghans voted in the fourth post-Taliban-era national election Saturday, though it was not without the violence promised by militants or myriad procedural challenges. With the polls officially closed, the vote count will begin Sunday, though it is not expected to be completed until the end of October.

Voters trickled into polls under a dark cloud of Taliban threats to disrupt the parliamentary election and the legacy of fraud that undermined the credibility of the last election, held just over a year ago.

A predawn earthquake shook the Afghan capital Saturday, but did not significantly impact the election.

Early voting appeared to be light - at 32 percent, according to the Independent Election Commission. But deputy spokesman Tabish Forugh said turnout could end up being much higher.

With the polls officially closed, the vote count will begin Sunday, though it is not expected to be completed until the end of October.

More than 2,500 candidates were competing for 249 seats in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.