KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Campaigning for Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 was scheduled to begin Wednesday.
Almost 2,800 candidates are running for 249 seats in the lower house of the national assembly, with more than a quarter of the seats reserved for women and 10 for nomads, the BBC reported.
Campaign posters have already appeared on walls around the country. Most of the campaigning, however, is expected to be done in more traditional ways in the predominantly rural country, such as meetings of tribal elders and Friday prayer gatherings.
Logistics pose a major problem, with donkeys needed to reach remote polling stations in the mountains and helicopters required for some of the more inaccessible areas.
Few candidates are running under the banner of any political party. However, many Afghans fear the leaders of old factions will win because they have the most money and power.
Security remains a major concern. In recent months Taliban fighters and al-Qaida militants have attacked U.S. troops and pro-government clerics, and they are threatening to disrupt the September elections.
More than 30,000 U.S. and NATO troops will be present, but security at polling stations will be handled by Afghan police and the national army.
