U.N. report: Afghan election violence last month killed 56

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- More than 50 people were killed in election violence in Afghanistan last month as residents cast their votes for the first time in four years, the United Nations said in a report Tuesday.

The report by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the violence resulted in 56 deaths and injury to nearly 400 others.

Most of the deaths happened on election day, Oct. 20, the report said, and are believed to have been caused by the Taliban.

Afghan elections were supposed to be held in 2016, but were repeatedly delayed because of disagreements over election reforms and potential fraud.

The results of this year's elections are expected later this month.

"This is the highest level of civilian harm compared to the four previous elections held in Afghanistan," the UNAMA report said.

"The level of civilian harm linked to parliamentary elections is particularly high compared to previous election cycles."

The report Tuesday said many of the attacks were carried out with rockets, grenades, mortars and improvised explosives. The attacks generally happened at polling centers.

Voting in Kandahar province was delayed a week after an attack there killed the police commander and intelligence chief and injured a ranking U.S. Army officer.

Army Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. military officer in Afghanistan, was also targeted, according to a statement released by the Taliban afterward. He was not hurt.