Today in photos

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his main rival Abdullah entered the last day of campaigning for the Afghan presidency on Monday with the outcome hanging on the threat of violence and the clout of old militia chiefs. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Aug. 17, 2009

Supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah shout slogans at a campaign rally at Kabul's National Stadium, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his main rival Abdullah entered the last day of campaigning for the Afghan presidency on Monday with the outcome hanging on the threat of violence and the clout of old militia chiefs.

Dima Gavrysh Associated Press
Supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah climb a lamp tower at a campaign rally at Kabul's National Stadium, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his main rival Abdullah entered the last day of campaigning for the Afghan presidency on Monday with the outcome hanging on the threat of violence and the clout of old militia chiefs.

Dima Gavrysh Associated Press
A supporter of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah, seen in photo at right, attends an election rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president.

Saurabh Das Associated Press
Campaign leaflets, dropped from a helicopter, float to the ground as supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah cheer during a campaign rally at a stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

David Guttenfelder Associated Press
An Afghan youth wears a T- shirt with a photo of incumbent Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is likely to win a second five-year term in the upcoming presidential election, during a press conference by Mohammad Hakim Tursun, Yassin Safi and Mohammad Nassir Aness who announced their retirement from the race and support for Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

Musadeq Sadeq Associated Press
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah is surrounded by supporters at the end of a campaign speech at a stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

David Guttenfelder Associated Press
Afghans string a line of election posters of presidential candidate and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai inside a tent during an election campaign rally in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

Rahmat Gul Associated Press
Presidential candidate and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai gestures to supporters during an election campaign rally in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

Rahmat Gul Associated Press
An Afghan man carries ballot boxes at a polling station in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect new president.

Farzana Wahidy Associated Press
A shopkeeper looks on as Spc. Michael Riley, 37, of Las Vegas, Nev., of the U.S. Army's 1st Platoon Apache Company of 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Combat Brigade 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, N.Y., removes a notice posted by the Taliban threatening anyone who votes in the Aug. 20 presidential elections in the village of Juy Zurin in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Monday, Aug.17, 2009.

David Goldman Associated Press
A U.S. soldier walks past ballot boxes ready to be transported to polling stations at an election commission office in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect a new president for the second time in the country's history.

Musadeq Sadeq Associated Press
Staff Sgt. Cody Anderson, 24, center, of Alpena, Mich., of the U.S. Army's 1st Platoon Apache Company of 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Combat Brigade 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, N.Y., questions village elders about notices posted by the Taliban threatening anyone who votes in the Aug. 20 presidential elections in the village of Juy Zurin in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Monday, Aug.17, 2009.

David Goldman Associated Press
An Afghan police officer guards Afghan boys walking with their donkeys carrying ballot boxes to the remote areas in Baba Ali village, Dara district in Panjshir province, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect the new president.

Rafiq Maqbool Associated Press
An Afghan boy boy pushes his donkey carrying ballot boxes to the remote areas in Baba Ali village, Dara district in Panjshir province, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Afghans will head to the polls on Aug. 20 to elect the new president.

Rafiq Maqbool Associated Press