Afghans vote again in final test as Taliban threats loom

Afghans headed back to the polls on Saturday for a second round of voting to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai in a decisive test of Afghanistan's ambitions to transfer power democratically for the first time in its tumultuous history. 

As most foreign troops leave by the end of 2014, whoever takes over from Karzai will inherit a troubled country with an increasingly violent Taliban insurgency and an economy crippled by corruption and the weak rule of law. 

The vote pits former anti-Taliban fighter Abdullah Abdullah against ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani after neither secured the 50 percent majority needed to win outright in the first round on April 5. 

There were far fewer incidents of violence than had been feared, and, like in the first round of voting in April, there was a palpable sense of relief in the Afghan capital as polls closed at 4 p.m. (1130 GMT). 

"Based on what I saw, it's been a very calm election day with vigilant security," Thijs Berman, the chief observer of the EU Election assessment team in Afghanistan, told Reuters after visiting some polling stations. 

Twelve million voters were eligible to cast ballots at 6,365 polling centres across Afghanistan, from windswept deserts on the Iranian border to the rugged Hindu Kush mountains, with preliminary results due on July 2. 

Karzai, standing down after 12 years in power, is expected to retain a hand in Afghan politics but has been tight-lipped about his plans. 

"Today Afghanistan takes a step towards stability, development and peace. Come out and determine your destiny," Karzai said after casting his ballot. 

"Come out and rescue your country from destruction and foreign dependence, bring stability to your...