44 register for Afghan presidential run

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 9 (UPI) -- Afghanistan officials say 44 presidential candidates, including two women, have signed up to run in the upcoming national elections.

Rescheduled from April to Aug. 20 due to security concerns, the balloting will be Afghanistan's first presidential poll since 2004, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

The Afghan candidates must pay $1,000 and submit at least 10,000 signatures on an endorsing petition to make the list. Five years ago, there were 25 registered presidential candidates, though only 18 of them ended up on the final ballot, the Russian news service said.

Incumbent Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who took 55 percent of the vote in 2004, is considered the favorite to win this year's poll as well, analysts say. He is reportedly supported by the majority of the dominant Pashtu ethnic group, and is running on a ticket with ethnic Tajik leader Mukhammed Fakhim, who will become vice president if Karzai is re-elected, RIA Novosti reported.