The Taliban in Afghanistan warned on Thursday they would attempt to derail next month's presidential election, calling on Afghans to boycott the poll and urging them to "join the trenches of jihad".Afghan and foreign troops are battling a growing Taliban-led insurgency across Afghanistan, with attacks escalating after thousands of US and British troops launched major operations in southern Helmand province this month. The increased violence coincides with campaigning for the August 20 poll, the second direct vote for president since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
Invasion: A statement issued by the Taliban's leadership council and posted on a website it uses (www.alemarah1.net), said the election was a US "invention" and urged voters to join them instead of taking part in a poll it labelled a farce.
"All mujahideen should strongly focus on making this process fail ... strike the enemy's bases and stop people from taking part in the election," the statement, in Pashtu, said. "All Afghans, due to their Islamic and national sentiments, need to totally boycott this seductive US process and ... join the trenches of jihad," it said. The statement was the first of its kind issued by the Taliban urging the direct disruption of the election. Before the Helmand operations, attacks this year had already reached their worst level since the Taliban were ousted by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001.
The election has already come under attack, with three candidates or campaign officials ambushed within the past week. One included President Hamid Karzai's senior vice-presidential running mate Muhammad Qasim Fahim, who escaped unhurt. One of Karzai's campaign offices in western Herat was bombed on Tuesday but there were no casualties. Karzai is seen as a clear front-runner ahead of 36 challengers, with former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-finance minister Ashraf Ghani seen among few serious contenders. Four candidates have pulled out so far.