Afghan police numbers increase for vote

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 30 (UPI) -- The number of Afghan national police will grow by some 10,000 to help secure the nation in time for national elections in August, U.S. military officials said.

Afghan police officers will attend a three-week training course in the weeks leading up to the Aug. 20 contest as U.S. and international forces flood into the country to help with security matters.

The increased police strength will go toward securing polling stations throughout the country, with 10 police assigned to each voting location, the U.S. Defense Department said.

"This is a critical component in election security as we continue to build police forces throughout Afghanistan," said U.S. Col. Bradley Nelson, a police integration officer assigned to assist international forces.

Analysts worry, however, that with Afghanistan taking the lead in the 2009 vote from the United Nations, security and weak government institutions could undermine the success of the elections.

Incumbent President Hamid Karzai faces more than 40 challengers, notably from his former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and his former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani. More than 3,000 candidates, meanwhile, are competing for seats on the provincial councils.