Brussels, 20/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - Despite the anticipated violence, the presidential and provincial elections in Afghanistan took place amid relative calm on Thursday 20 August, despite a wide-scale offensive in the province of Kunduz in the north of the country and many small attacks across the country. The UN Special Representative in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said at midday that he was "satisfied" to note that the elections were unfolding "rather well", with less violence than he had feared. "The type of spectacular attack we were warned of has not happened. The day is not yet over, but I have to say that I am satisfied to see that so far, the elections are going rather well", he said, quoted by AFP. According to a spokesperson of the EU electoral observation mission on the ground, all of the polling stations covered by European observers were opened and the mission protected by Afghan security forces. The preliminary report of the mission is to be published on 22 August. As we went to press, no definitive results had been announced, but initial estimates suggested turnout rates below that of 2004, when the first presidential elections were held. Around midday, the Afghan electoral committee estimated that turnout could be 50% by the time the polling stations closed (compared to 75% in 2004). According to a Western diplomat quoted by the press, however, that kind of figure would be "extraordinarily high". The Afghan electoral committee has announced that 6185 polling stations were opened (or 95% of the total), with 312 closed and another 16 which have not yet reported. A number of irregularities were reported by the press, such as complaints regarding purchasing of votes or the incorrect functioning of the indelible ink used in certain polling stations. (A.By./trans.fl)