Taliban Vow to Disrupt Afghanistan Election

Source: Reuters

KABUL, July 30 (Reuters) - The Taliban in Afghanistan warned on Thursday it would attempt to derail next month's presidential election, calling on Afghans to boycott the poll and urging them to "join the trenches of jihad".

Afghan and foreign troops are battling a growing Taliban-led insurgency across Afghanistan, with attacks escalating after thousands of U.S. and British troops launched major operations in southern Helmand province this month.

The increased violence coincides with campaigning for the Aug. 20 poll, the second direct vote for president since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

A statement issued by the Taliban's leadership council and posted on a website it uses (www.alemarah1.net), said the election was a U.S. "invention" and urged voters to join them instead of taking part in a poll it labelled a farce.

"All mujahideen should strongly focus on making this process fail ... strike the enemy's bases and stop people from taking part in the election," the statement, in Pashtu, said.

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