ISLAMABAD - Taliban insurgents have warned Afghans not to vote in the November 7 presidential runoff, threatening violence against those who participate.

In a statement Saturday, the Taliban denounced the election as an “American process,” and vowed to take action to stop it. The group said militants will cut off main roads on election day and warned that anyone who casts a ballot would do so at their own risk.

The Taliban issued a similar warning during the August 20 election. A number of violent attacks, including rocket fire and the amputations of ink-stained fingers on voters’ hands, were reported.

Campaigning began Saturday for the second-round election between incumbent President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah.

A United Nations-backed fraud investigation invalidated nearly one-third of Mr. Karzai’s votes from the August election, pushing the Afghan president below the 50-percent needed to avoid a runoff.

On Friday, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, said he is “hopeful” next month’s election will include less voter fraud.

He noted the conditions are different compared to the August vote because only two candidates will be on the ballot and more international teams will be in place to monitor.

U.S. President Barack Obama is closely watching the political situation in Afghanistan as he considers a U.S. military recommendation to send more U.S. troops to counter a growing Taliban insurgency.

In violence, NATO says two U.S. troops were killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan on Friday. Another NATO soldier was killed in a fire-fight while on patrol in the region.

This year has been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban-led government in 2001.

Source:  VOA News