Afghanistan elections

Kabul: Afghans walk past a wall plastered with electoral posters Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Juy Zurin: A shopkeeper looks on as an American soldier removes a notice posted by the Taliban threatening anyone who votes in Wardak province Photograph: David Goldman/AP

Kabul: The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, prays while visiting the new Jumhuriat hospital Photograph: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Kabul: A wounded boy stands among other injured civilians at the scene of a suicide car bomb attack on a Nato convoy Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

Kabul: Presidential candidate and former foreign minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah is escorted to his helicopter en route to a campaign stop in his home province of Takha Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Baba Ali: Boys walk with their donkeys carrying ballot boxes to remote areas in Panjshir province Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

Jalalabad: Candidate and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai talks to supporters during a campaign rally Photograph: Rahmat Gul/AP

Kabul: Nato troops secure the site of a suicide car bomb Photograph: Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images

Lashkar Gah: Election workers prepare to board a Chinook helicopter to Sangin to set up polling booths Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Kabul: A campaign rally for Abdullah at the city's national stadium Photograph: Dima Gavrysh/AP

Kandahar: Women take photographs during an election rally in support of Karzai Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters

Kabul: A security officer stands guard at a campaign rally for Abdullah Photograph: Dima Gavrysh/AP

Kabul: Women and children at an Abdullah rally Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Taloqan: Tribal elders sit under a portrait of the late Taliban fighter Ahmed Shah Massoud as they gather to meet Abdullah Abdullah Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Shibergan: A crowd welcomes General Abdul Rashid Dostum, returning from exile in Turkey after being given a government pardon in the face of threats by his supporters to withdraw support for Karzai Photograph: Caren Firouz/Reuters