Brussels, 21/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 21 August, the European Commission congratulated the citizens of Afghanistan on a "successful" election process. "It is clear that the men and women of Afghanistan have voiced their wish to see the peaceful and democratic development of their country", states a press release published the day after the presidential and provincial elections, which took place in an "extremely difficult environment". The Commission also urges all candidates for the Presidency of the country to abstain from making any premature announcements concerning the results of the election and to wait for the preliminary report of the electoral observation mission and the Afghan independent electoral commission. Speaking before the press on Thursday 20 August, the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmusen, said that from the point of view of security, the elections had been a "success". However, according to a number of observers, the high rate of abstention (the turnout rate is believed to have been between 40 and 50%, according to the electoral commission) may be taken by the Taliban, which carried out a number of attacks to intimidate voters, as a sign of victory. In certain southern regions, previously favourable to the outgoing president Hamid Karzaï, turnout is believed to have been no higher than 10%, according to a European diplomat quoted by the press. (A.By./trans.fl)