Afghanistan election: Rockets fired as voting begins

(Jeremy Page and Tom Coghlan in Kabul, and Julius Cavendish in Kandahar)

Several minor Taleban attacks were reported this morning as nervous Afghans made their way through largely deserted streets to vote in a presidential election that pits their faith in democracy against their fears of militant violence.

There were as yet no reports of suicide attacks, or other major assaults - which often happen in the early hours of the morning - despite the Taleban's repeated threats to disrupt the vote by attacking polling stations.

But there were also very few people turning out in early voting, with many saying they were too disillusioned or too frightened - especially by a Taleban threat to cut off voters' index fingers, which are marked with indelible ink.

In the southern city of Kandahar, a mortar attack hit the house of the Provincial Governor, Tooryalai Wesa, at around 3.30am and two rockets hit the city at about 6.30 a.m, according to local security monitors.

"Yes, rockets have landed," Mr Wesa told reporters after casting his vote. Witnesses reported hearing two blasts, and local security sources said four people were injured.

Skirmishes were also reported across Kandahar, where streets were largely deserted, and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found and destroyed outside polling stations, the security monitors said.

More explosions were heard later, and one Taleban commander told The Times by telephone: "The situation will get worse. We are trying our best."

The Taleban also fired rockets and attacked one polling station in the northern city of Kunduz, the local police chief, Abdul Razaq told The Times. He said no civilians were hurt, but police killed one militant and arrested two others.

Kabul, the capital, was quiet but tense with shops and businesses closed and thousands of extra police manning checkpoints around the city, and searching the few cars and pedestrians moving around.