Bush hails Afghan elections

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- President Bush congratulated Afghanistan Monday the holding of parliamentary and local elections in defiance of continued Taliban and terrorist activity.

The Afghan people had once again defied those who threatened lives, he said.

Afghanistan, liberated from the Islamist Taliban and its al-Qaida allies by the United States, held its first presidential election in October after adopting a constitution. The new parliament, and local offices, would likely begin in December.

Despite economic, political and security progress in the country, the Taliban continues to vex Afghan and international coalition troops in the country, but the violence is nowhere near that of Iraq.