Afghanistan election hailed

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Polling stations across Afghanistan has started the vote counting. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has declared elections on Thursday a success, saying voters had still cast their ballots, despite 73 attacks across 15 provinces.

At a brief news conference after polls closed, Karzai said the Afghan people defied rockets, bombs, intimidation and suicide attacks to came out and vote.

His main opponent, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, also hailed the election.

He said that while there had been government interference in the election, he was sure results would reflect the people's choice.

The United Nations' special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said the presidential election was an "achievement" after voting ended without major security incidents.

On Thursday, the UN Security Council welcomed the holding of the election in Afghanistan, and condemned "the actions of those who sought to deny the voice of the Afghan people by attempting to disrupt the elections."