Violence threatens Afghan women's vote - 16 Aug 09

Many fear poor security, rampant fraud and not enough female election staff will keep many women away from the polling stations in next week's presidential election in Afghanistan.

While the female vote has emerged as a potentially powerful bloc in some areas, it is unlikely the majority of women will exercise their right to vote in the violent south and east, where weak governance has allowed the Taliban to extend there influence.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Helmand province.

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