September 18, 2010
The Taliban Friday stepped up their campaign to disrupt Afghanistan's parliamentary elections, kidnapping two candidates and several electoral workers across the country a day ahead of the vote.
Afghan and international forces are bracing themselves for a major showdown with the Taliban once the polls open Saturday morning, fearing spectacular insurgent attacks in Kabul and other major cities.
"The election day will be a violent day, probably the most violent day of the year," says Staffan de Mistura, the chief United Nations envoy here. "It remains to be seen how efficient this violence will be, and whether it will induce people not to go vote."
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