(20 Aug 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Various of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai casting vote
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan president
"It's the second presidential and parliamentary election in Afghanistan and I'm sure that, inshallah, this will be for peace, for progress and for the well being of the Afghan people and I request the Afghan people to come out and vote so that, through their vote, Afghanistan can be more secure, more peaceful, and a better country."
3. Karzai leaving polling station; UPSOUND (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan president: "No violence. Vote, no violence"
4. Wide interior of polling centre
5. Various of women in female queue
7. Various of woman in burqua voting
8. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Zia Gul, female voter:
"We want the next President to stop the killing of innocent people and to find jobs for the people, and bring peace. My feeling is I'll vote for a good man who brings justice. I will vote for a Muslim man, I'm very happy".
9. Wide of polling station
10. Various of men voting
11. Close up of man
12. Various of voters being searched at entrance to polling station
13. Pan of voters queuing
14. Various of police searching and people enter the polling station
15. Various of soldiers voting at different polling station
16. Wide of Kabul street
17. Wide of Afghan police at road block
18. Low short of Afghan police officer holding automatic weapon
19. Afghan police at road block as cars drive through
20. Various of Afghan police searching car passengers and vehicle
21. Close-up of Afghan police officer
22. Low shot of cars driving past with gun in shot
STORYLINE
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, wearing his traditional purple and green striped robe, cast his vote in Kabul on Thursday in national elections marred by the shadow of Taliban threats of violence.
Karzai voted at 7 am local time (0230GMT). He dipped a finger in indelible ink - a fraud prevention measure - and held it up for the cameras.
"I request the Afghan people to come out and vote so through their vote Afghanistan will be more secure, more peaceful," Karzai said.
"Vote. No violence," he added as he left the polling station.
Afghans voted under the shadow of Taliban threats of violence on Thursday to choose a new president for a nation plagued by armed insurgency, drugs, corruption and a feeble government nearly eight years after the US-led invasion.
Karzai, who has held power since the Taliban was ousted eight years ago, is favoured to finish first among 36 official candidates, although a late surge by former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah could force a runoff if no one wins more than 50 percent.
Turnout, particularly in the violent south, will be key to the vote's success - the country's second direct presidential election.
Taliban militants have pledged to disrupt the vote and circulated threats that those who cast ballots will be punished.
Early indications in Kabul pointed to a low initial turnout, perhaps as people assessed whether casting ballots was safe.
An Associated Press reporter who visited six polling centres in the capital said he saw no lines at any of them.
Afghan police officers set up road blocks in the capital city of Kabul and carried out extensive searches.
International officials have predicted an imperfect election, but expressed hope that Afghans would accept it as legitimate -a key component of President Barack Obama's war strategy.
Preliminary results were expected to be announced in Kabul on Saturday.
fears in Western capitals that the president will be unable to fulfil promises to fight corruption in a second term.

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