KABUL Aug 11 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday hailed the surge in Afghans registering to vote in October's presidential elections, saying more than nine million people had signed up for the landmark polls.
"I visited the joint election commission today and they claim something in excess of nine million registered voters, of which a very sizeable portion are women, something in excess of 40 percent," Rumsfeld told a press conference at the end of an unannounced visit to Kabul.
The number of eligible voters is estimated at some 10 million people.
"When one thinks about it and recognises that there has been a campaign of intimidation, attempts to dissuade people from registering, the surge in registration that's taken place throughout the country has to be a very vivid demonstration of the Afghan people's determination to make democracy work," he said.
Rumsfeld, who held talks with incumbent president Hamid Karzai and Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim, said the upcoming October 9 vote was "an important one".
"To not mention this truly impressive accomplishment would be unfortunate, because it is impressive and it says a great deal about the prospects for the future of this important country," Rumsfeld added.
Insurgents loyal to the ousted Taliban rulers have vowed to disrupt the lead-up to the polls and have killed election workers, aid workers, troops and other government officials in a bid to terrify Afghans from voting.
Karzai and 17 other candidates are running for election.