KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai Thursday congratulated Afghans on successful holding of the presidential and provincial council elections in the country, reeling from unrelenting militant-linked violence and widespread poverty.

"I greet the brave and courageous people of Afghanistan on the successful conduct of elections, which is a propitious sign for establishing a democratically elected government and promoting democracy in the country," he said.

Addressing a news conference here after voting for the landmark elections ended, the president praised the nation for flocking to polling centres across the country while defying pressures and threats from insurgents.

The incumbent, seeking a new five-year term, said 73 security-related incidents happened in 15 provinces on Election Day that saw more than two dozen people killed in different parts of the country.

He thanked officials of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Afghan National Army (ANA), police, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and media organisations for cooperation in conducting the polls in a befitting manner.

Asked about the low turnout, Karzai replied voters streamed to polling centres despite rocket attacks, bomb explosions and other difficulties.

Reminded of poor-quality ink used to colour voter fingers, the president argued everybody had the right to take such objections to the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).

mud/frm