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Voters in Afghanistan went to the polls 20 August for the nation's second presidential election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The election has been held in the midst of a war that involves more than 100,000 U.S. and foreign troops battling a Taliban insurgency that controls vast parts of the country. Follow the news about the election, including blogging from Kabul, from our special report, Afghan Elections: Challenges of Voting During Wartime.

Taliban Reportedly Cut Off Fingers of 2 Voters Meanwhile, international observers render tentative verdict on electoral process, calling Thursday's balloting generally positive, democratic Pakistani Taliban Appoints Successor to Mehsud Despite appointment of new leader, Taliban holds to claim that Baitullah Mehsud is still alive, saying he is seriously ill Iraqi FM: Security Forces Possibly Involved in Baghdad Blasts Hoshyar Zebari also questions government's decision to remove concrete walls around ministries, move he says allowed large trucks to pass through, carry out Wednesday's blasts Report: CIA Threatened Detainees With Weapons Long-secret report by internal investigator to be released Monday, making public details of CIA's controversial interrogation techniques during former President George W. Bush's administration Libya's Gadhafi Welcomes Lockerbie Bomber Moammar Gadhafi praises Scottish authorities for having 'courage' to allow Abdelbaset al-Megrahi to return home North Korean Delegation Requests Meeting with South Korean President Delegation in Seoul to pay respects to late President Kim New US Ambassador to China Pushes Improved Ties Jon Huntsman says US President Barack Obama set to visit China in November Nigeria's Delayed Electoral Reforms Sparks Concerns Over 2011 Elections Without key reforms, many Nigerians fear vote rigging, intimidation could derail process Obama Sends Video Greetings for Ramadan Mr. Obama's Ramadan message is intended to build on goodwill generated by his June speech in Cairo to the Muslim world America's Muslims Celebrate Holy Month of Ramadan Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on August 22; celebration includes dawn-to-dusk fasting with time-honored rituals