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The United States praised millions of Afghan voters who defied Taliban threats and attacks to vote in a presidential run-off election securing the country's first democratic transfer of power, with counting set to begin Sunday.

Explosions and gunfire rang out as the Taliban attacked Kabul airport Thursday in the militants' latest attempt to steal the initiative with the country in the grip of a presidential power struggle.

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers encountered pockets of stiff resistance and extensive minefields as they sought to press into this Taliban sanctuary in southern Afghanistan on Saturday.

Workdays for midwife Nooria Haya regularly included meetings and discussions with male doctors. They decided on treatments for locals and the priorities for the public clinic she works in. It's in Ishkamish, a rural district with sparse amenities, in Takhar province on Afghanistan's north-eastern border with Tajikistan

Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani pledged Sunday to fight on after coming second in preliminary election results, setting the stage for a difficult run-off vote likely to be targeted by Taliban militants.

United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on a surprise visit Sunday, following the release of soldier Bowe Bergdahl, held hostage by the Taliban for five years, a US defense official said.

KABUL, Jan 06, 2015 (AFP) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani marked his first 100 days in power on Tuesday, still struggling to form a government as a new political stalemate threatens to fuel the Taliban insurgency.

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