AFGHANISTAN: A blast rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul early yesterday, the eve of a historic presidential election in Afghanistan.
NATO-led international peacekeeping force officials said they were checking the cause and location of the explosion.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed yesterday that a historic presidential election would be successfully held this weekend and reflect the people's wishes despite inevitable sabotage attempts by Taliban fighters.
US-backed Mr Karzai is the favourite to win tomorrow's poll, which should legitimise his rule and mark a turning point for a country shattered by more than a quarter-century of war.
He said in a BBC interview he was aware guns and intimidation would play a role in the election.
"How long can we wait for the guns to go before we have elections?" Karzai said. "No election in the world is free of tension.
Afghanistan is in a more serious situation because we are emerging out of war.
"But because of the massive enthusiasm and will of the Afghan people to go toward this election and to build their country in a democratic way, I very much hope this election will provide a result that they will like."
Hours after he spoke, two rockets were fired near a base used by troops of the NATO-led international force in the capital, but missed the camp.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Taliban threats to attack anyone taking part in the vote have not stopped more than 10.5 million Afghans of a population of about 28 million, from registering to directly elect their president for the first time.
Women make up more than 40 percent of those who have registered, organisers say. An additional 1.3 million refugees in Pakistan and Iran are also eligible to participate.