Afghans, Cautiously Hopeful, Line Up to Determine Their Futures

If all goes according to plan on April 5, Afghanistan will hold its third presidential and provincial council elections since the fall of the Taliban.

Elections are important in any country, but this one may mark the first peaceful democratic transfer of power from one Afghan leader to another. Hamid Karzai, who has led the country for eight years, is barred by the nation's constitution from running for a third time. He will be replaced by one of nine remaining candidates, only three of whom are considered favorites.

Abdullah Abdullah, who placed second behind Karzai in Afghanistan's presidential election in 2009, is a frontrunner this year. The other two in the group of favorites are Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Zalmai Rassoul. Read more...