KABUL (PAN): As electioneering for the forthcoming presidential polls entered its 28^th day on Wednesday, some aspirants paid visits to several provinces in a bid to muster public support.

More than 250, 00 people, called by an ethnic party, Insijami Arabhai Afghanistan, voiced their support for former foreign minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah in the August 20 polls at a huge gathering held in Kalakan district of capital Kabul.

Leader of the party, Mullah Izatullah, in his address said "the participants of this gathering represent three millions Arabs living in different parts of the country."

"There is a great need for positive changes in Afghanistan, and we see Dr Abdullah a man who can steer the country out of challenges," he said.

"It is my resolve to bring positive changes in Afghanistan," Dr Abdullah, the presidential hopeful, told the gathering.

For the first time during the electioneering, a convention backed a female candidate in eastern Kunar province, Dr. Frozan Fanah.

The gathering of about 300 people belonging to different walks of life, announced support for Fanah in the elections.

"She is a real Afghan. All the people should cast vote in her favour," said Omara Khan, a campaigner for her candidacy.

In southeastern Paktia province, supporters of another candidate, Motasimbillah Mazhabi, complained that the campaign posters of their candidate had been torn down in the province.

A campaigner for Mazhabi, Haji Mohammad, lashed out at the security officials of the province. He said the security forces took strong security measures for a gathering in support of the incumbent president Hamid Karzai, but in case of Motasimbillah Mazhabi, the forces arrived one hour late to the venue where a gathering in his support was taking place

In southern Kandahar province, hundreds of women announced their support for president Karzai. Nomads in eastern Nangarhar province also voiced support for Karzai.

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