Kabul: Afghanstan President Hamid Karzai and his Western allies have pronounced the country's election a success, after voting passed off largely peacefully on Thursday.
Karzai hailed Afghans for braving Taliban "bombs and intimidations". His praise was echoed by the United States and NATO.
There were some attacks, but the United Nations (UN) claims that the vast majority of polling stations were able to function.
US President Barack Obama also said that elections appear to have been successful.
President Karzai is facing challenges from about 30 rivals. Meanwhile, his campaign chief Deen Mohammad on Friday claimed "initial results show the president has got a majority."