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Posted: 28 September 2004 1231 hrs

Warlords pose a bigger threat to Afghan vote than Taliban: rights group

KABUL : Gun-wielding militia commanders seeking to intimidate voters pose a much bigger threat to Afghanistan's first presidential election next month than Taliban-led militants, a report by Human Rights Watch said.

"In most parts of the country Afghans told Human Rights Watch that they are primarily afraid of the local factional leaders and military commanders -- not the Taliban insurgency," the rights group said.

The report titled 'The Rule of the Gun', which looks into human rights abuses and political repression ahead of the vote, said the local militia commanders who came to power after the hardline Taliban was ousted in 2001 have cemented their rule with brutal means.

Regional militias across the country have held onto political power at a local level, "using force, threats and corruption to stifle legitimate political activity and dominate the election process," it said.

The rest is here: Channel News Asia