Afghanistan goes to polls on election day

Elections in Afghanistan: Men vote at a polling station in Kabul

Men vote in Kabul Photograph: Hadi Tabrizi/EPA

Elections in Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai displays his finger marked with ink

The president, Hamid Karzai, displays his finger marked with ink as he leaves the polling station after casting his vote in Kabul Photograph: Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah

The presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah speaks to the media after casting his ballot in a polling station at Naderia high school in Kabul Photograph: Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: Voters and supporters of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah

Voters and supporters of the presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah wash ink from their fingers using detergent outside Naderia high school in Kabul Photograph: Jon Boon

Elections in Afghanistan: Women wait to cast their ballots inside a polling centre in Kabul

Women wait to cast their ballots inside a polling centre in Kabul Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: An electoral worker seals ballot boxes

An electoral worker seals ballot boxes prior to polling at a school in Kandahar Photograph: Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: Women show identification cards

Women show identification cards as they wait to cast their votes in Kandahar Photograph: Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: A woman in a voting booth at a polling centre in Herat

A woman in a voting booth at a polling centre in Herat Photograph: Raheb Homavandi/Reuters

Elections in Afghanistan: A woman waits to vote in a school used a polling centre in Herat

A woman waits to vote in Herat Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: Abdul Samad, 62, with an inked finger

Abdul Samad, 62, with an inked finger after voting at Kartalagan boys' school polling station in Lashkar Gah Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Elections in Afghanistan: Campaign staff at a poling station in Mazar-e-Sharif

Election workers adjust bibs that identify them as campaign staff at a polling station in Mazar-e-Sharif Photograph: Keith Bedford/AFP/Getty Images

Elections in Afghanistan: Election workers check identification cards

Election workers check identification cards at a polling station in Mazar-e-Sharif Photograph: Keith Bedford/AFP/Getty Images

Afghanistan elections: A suicide bomber blew himself up in Kabul

A policeman stands by the bloodstained floor where a suicide bomber blew himself up in Kabul Photograph: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Afghanistan elections: A woman holds her child as she leaves a polling station in Mazar-i-Sharif

A woman holds her child as she leaves a polling station in Mazar-e-Sharif Photograph: Farzana Wahidy/AP

Afghanistan elections: Policemen carry the bodies of two gunmen killed after a shootout in Kabul

Policemen carry the bodies of two gunmen killed after a shootout in Kabul. Police exchanged fire with three suspected Taliban suicide bombers who took over a building in the capital Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

Afghanistan elections: Women stand in line

Women stand in line, waiting for their turn to vote at a mosque in Kabul Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters