Ban congratulates Afghans on successful election

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the people of Afghanistan on the successful completion of their elections, despite several instances of terrorist attacks in the country.

"The secretary-general would like to congratulate the women and men of Afghanistan on today's Presidential and Provincial Council elections," said a UN statement.

By exercising their constitutional right to vote, the Afghan people have demonstrated again their desire for stability and development in their country, Ban said.

The secretary-general also commended the Independent Election Commission, and all other Afghan institutions and international stakeholders supporting the electoral process for organising the elections in an extremely challenging environment.

Ban urged all candidates, their agents and supporters to continue cooperating with all Afghan electoral institutions during the counting of ballots and the results aggregation period, the complaints and adjudication process and the certification of results.

Earlier in Kabul, UN Envoy for Afghanistan Kai Eide said he was pleased with the way the elections were taking place and there had been less violence than he had feared.