More than 40 people, including civilians, security forces and Taliban fighters were killed Saturday as Taliban militants tried to derail the second post-Taliban parliamentary polls, officials said, dpa reported.
Among those killed in rockets and bombings were 11 civilians, three policemen and one soldier, Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Interior Minister Besmillah Khan Mohammadi told reporters in a joint press conference.
At least 27 Taliban militants were also killed, the officials said. More than 100 others, including 45 civilians, were injured when Taliban fired rockets and attacked numerous polling stations across the country shortly after balloting began.
One NATO-led soldier was also killed in an insurgent attack on Saturday, the alliance military said in a statement without revealing his nationality or whether the deceased was taking part in an election related operation.
More than 110,000 Afghan police and army personnel provided security for more than 5,000 polling stations in the country's 34 provinces. Nearly 150,000 US and NATO troops, who are currently based in the country, were standing by to provide assistance if necessary.
The Afghan security forces have been preparing for the security of the polls for months. A total of 300 soldiers have killed and 950 others injured in election related operations since June 15, according to Wardak.