The city is calm and as the first light of day rises, people begin to move about. By 05.40 some 15 men are already lined up in the morning sun waiting for the Polling Centre to open at Gowar Shad school. The atmosphere is festive and people are chatting animatedly.

• Herat chief of police Salangi visits the polling centre at 7.30h:

  “I am very happy today because the situation in Herat is good, everywhere is calm. The police has deployed to all the centres and there are no reports of incidents or tension. This is a good day for the city. We are thankful for all the hard work of our men and the cooperation of all the security forces.”

• FIRST Male Voter - Gawar Shad School Herat

• Hajj Mohamad Yassin, age: 73

  “I am very happy for my country; it is a historic day. I am so proud and pleased that we have reached this point after so many years of war and trouble. I am voting for those who are capable of bringing peace to Afghanistan.

• Gulam Rassoul: age 35

  “It's a historical day for the whole of Afghanistan . I have a son of & and a half and a daughter of four. I am voting for them, for my children's future. It is a new beginning for Afghanistan. By the time my children have grown up and can vote themselves, we will have a different country.”

• Malika Jelali, 18

  “I feel so good because now, women have equal rights. I believe the people I have chosen today can defend my rights, first of all my personal rights, and all the rights given to us by our constitution. I hope the people vote for those who can bring peace to Afghanistan, this is what we need most, so we can continue our education. I also believe we have candidates here in Herat who can fight corruption and help us build good government institutions. That will be the first step so we can start to build the economy.”