News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

14 August 2009 - With less than a week to go until elections in Afghanistan on 20 August, election materials have been transported to all 34 provinces, and the UN-supported Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is gearing up to handle complaints expected to arise around the polls.

KABUL - In the north east of Afghanistan the Independent Election Commission has started the training for more than 19,000 staff for Election Day. They’ll be trained on the working procedures for the voting and the ballot counting for the 20 August presidential and provincial council elections. “The…

14 August 2009 - In many ways, history is unfolding in this hastily-assembled office in a residential apartment in Kabul's Kolola Pushta neighbourhood. Farida Tarana, one of Afghanistan's most popular women, welcomes me into the room, then quickly engrosses herself in some papers, as a bunch of…

13 August 2009 - In exactly seven days Afghans will go to the polls to elect their next president. A new democracy is being experienced in Afghanistan with daily television debates attracting large audiences on the dozens of new TV channels which have sprung up in the last five years. Everyday…

12 August 2009 - Insecurity is having a serious impact on preparations for Afghanistan's upcoming elections, especially for women, according to a United Nations report released Sunday, which added that despite attacks and threats, Afghans are eager to take part in the polls.

9 August 2009 - Afghanistan’s most popular singer, Farhad Darya today called on his countrymen and women to actively participate in the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections. “I am not working for any particular candidates, but I am supporting the culture of elections and the…

9 August 2009 - The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan said today that he was concerned that the insecurity around the country will affect the turn-out of voters for the 20 August presidential and provincial council elections. In a joint press conference with the Afghanistan Independent Human…

KABUL - A total of 30 out of 41 presidential candidates participated in pre-election television roundtables conducted by the Media Commission between 29 July and 6 August. The Commission told a press conference today that 28 candidates also participated in similar radio roundtables. The roundtables…

6 August 2009 - The last three months have been very busy for Mastali Niazi as he tries to meet hundreds of people and educate them about the elections. Mr Niazi, 48, is a university lecturer in Nangarhar province, who has defied all the odds to become an election civic educator and teach the staff…

2 August 2009 - The top United Nations official in Afghanistan today condemned violent attacks on presidential hopefuls ahead of this month's national and provincial elections, urging all parties to concentrate on the political debate. “There has been - and there is - concern about irregularities…

2 August 2009 - As the final weeks approach for the 20 August presidential and provincial council elections the massive logistical operation behind organizing the polls is becoming clear. A two step plan has been formulated by Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission and the UN’s elections…

28 July 2009 - On 20 August Afghanistan will hold elections for President and provincial council members. This is the second time Afghans will go to the polls since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And preparations are in full swing.