UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged on Sunday the candidates and their supporters in Afghanistan to cooperate fully with the electoral authorities to ensure that the process unfolds in a peaceful and orderly manner.

In a statement issued by a UN spokesman, Annan congratulated the Afghan people on their "enthusiastic participation" in the poll held on Sunday for the National Assembly and Provincial Councils.

"Today's achievement shows once again the clear determination of the Afghan people to pursue the peaceful and democratic development of their nations," the Secretary-General noted.

Over 12.5 million Afghans apparently have gone to polling stations on Sunday to elect the members of parliament and provincial councils from among nearly 5,800 candidates amid tight security.

Source: Xinhua