13 August 2009 - In exactly seven days Afghans will go to the polls to elect their next president.

A new democracy is being experienced in Afghanistan with daily television debates attracting large audiences on the dozens of new TV channels which have sprung up in the last five years.

Everyday tribes from across the country announce their support for one of the presidential candidates, while the hopefuls and their allies throw parties, organize rallies and gatherings to attract the voters.

Streets in all the major cities are decorated with large billboards of the faces and slogans of the candidates while posters can be found everywhere, even on the back of cars and trolleys.

Such a frenzy of democratic activity is unusual for a country where the transfer of power in the last century has usually been anything but peaceful.

The last King of Afghanistan, Mohammad Zahir Shah was overthrown by his cousin in 1973 in a coup, while the last pro-Soviet president Dr Najibullah, was hung from a lamp post at a traffic circle in the centre of Kabul in 1992.

The struggle for power between numerous parties, after the Mujahideen took control of Kabul in 1992, reduced the ancient capital city of Afghanistan to rubble.

Now with a week to go until polling day, the main concern for Afghanistan’s elections is security.

The resurgent Taliban have vowed to disrupt the elections and have warned Afghans not to participate.

But despite the challenges Afghanistan is firmly heading towards these historic elections.

Election materials have been transported, without any major incident, to all 34 provinces using chartered flights, vehicles and even 3,000 donkeys.

Thousands of Afghan security forces, along with international troops, have stepped up their efforts to ensure security and enable Afghans to come out and vote in their millions.

“It is of course sad that we have conflict ongoing in the country which will not allow all Afghans voters to come to the polling stations and do what they want to do, to give their vote and have their say what the future of Afghanistan should be,” said the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide last week.

“So my appeal to everybody is don’t block the road for Afghans, male or female who want to do what the constitution entitles that person to do,” concluded Mr Eide.

By Homayon Khoram, UNAMA