AP: Afghan count reveals Kabul indifference

[Charlie Brown]

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Nearly two-thirds of registered voters in Kabul apparently stayed away from Afghanistan's landmark legislative polls, an election official said Thursday as workers counted ballots under the close watch of candidates' representatives.

The U.N.-Afghan chief electoral officer, Peter Erben, said early reports from nearly all polling centers suggested nationwide turnout was about 53 percent, with some 6.6 million voters casting ballots in the country's first parliamentary elections in 36 years.

But turnout in Kabul appeared to have been about 36 percent, he said.