Competition in Afghan Presidential Election Tight
On Saturday, Afghans will go to the polls to elect a new president of the two remaining candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. Both are assumed to be tight competition.
KABUL - Afghan security forces assured that Taliban threats to derail the presidential election Saturday between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah will not be realized.
 In addition to regular troops, approximately 195 thousand additional troops had been deployed to protect approximately 6 thousand polling stations and voters, said Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi.
 "The mountains, valleys and areas where the enemy can attack, the sons and brothers of you, our troops, are at the forefront prevent any threats and protect you at the polling stations," said Azimi.
 The winner of the election will face a weak economy, militant violence, and try to get the international community involved in the development of Afghanistan.
 January Kubis, the UN special envoy to Afghanistan, said the vote was very important for the future of the country.
 "Afghanistan is facing one of the most important days in the modern history of this country," said Jan Kubis.
 Measuring national public support for one of the candidates is difficult, but a poll published in the last few weeks show the presidential election contest is running very fierce.
 Ghani supporters confident he will lead the future of Afghanistan. Kheil Maryam Suleiman, a supporter, has told, "He is a guy that I think is most capable of creating change, the basic foundation for the future of Afghanistan, for world security and for young people.
 Abdullah supporters as sure. Only Mahmoud Saikal said Abdullah who can unite the country ravaged by ethnic conflict and tribal.
 "We are putting together a national agenda for Afghanistan. We do not have an agenda of ethnic, linguistic no agenda, no regional agenda, "Saikal said.
 Although concerned about the violence and fraud on election day, young voters in Kabul as Hodadad Shweib remain optimistic.
 "The elections are very important in the practice of democracy in Afghanistan, so as a youth, and I really hope Afghans in this process and I believe this election will be very successful," said Shweib.
 Officials hope the people who voted on Saturday to much, to choose the next leader with a clear mandate.