Millions of Afghans voted in the historic second-ever elections to elect a new president on Thursday

The process begun amid tight security measures on

Thursday morning, as the Taliban vowed to disrupt

the process and called on Afghans

to boycott the polling.

Opinion polls have showed support for Hamid Karzai is 45%,

with his main rival Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in

second place with 25%.

People during voting in Badakhshan one of the

Remot destrict of Afghanistan in Election 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009
Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009
Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009
Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009
Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009
Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Afghanistan Election 20Augest 2009

Incumbent Karzai defended last month’s Afghan election a day after a partial vote count placed him in the lead with 54 percent of votes