Afghanistan goes to polls in shadow of threats

For only the second time in its history Afghanistan will choose its President as the country goes to the polls on Thursday.

However, it's an election under a surge in Taliban attacks and threats. The government  has called for a blackout on reporting of attacks on voting day so voters are not scared away.

President Hamid Karzai needs to win by a big margin to avert a run off vote with the second place candidate. And he's been accused of trying to win vote blocs and every cost. Even going back to repressive anti-women laws.

Afghanistan's image of a conservative, sometimes medieval society has been reinforced with President Karzai having pushed through a controversial law for minority shias by decree.

Karzai changed the original legislation that essentially legalised marital rape, because it was seen as a return to Taliban-era repression.

But, womens' right activists say:
It still allows shia husbands to starve wives and refuse them money if they are denied sex
A shia woman must get her husband's permission to work
It allows rapists to pay to avoid prosecution
Fathers, grandfather to be given exclusive custody of children

"In my opinion the law that has been made by the clerics and respectable people is okay and it's good for Muslim society. According to Islam the law is correct and good," said Mulr Mohammad Salen, local resident.

Activists accuse Karzai of looking for votes from the conservative Shia clergy. Nearly 20 per cent of Afghans are Shias and are an influential voting block.

"It doesn't matter if you call it the constitution or Shia family law, what is practising in Afghanistan, this is important and we need to change it," said Shinkai Kharokhel, Member of Afghan Parliament.

Many of the Shias belong to the Hazara ethnic minority. Influential Shiite clerics have thrown their support behind Karzai. The President, who belongs to the largest Pashtun ethnic group has a Hazara, Karim Khalili, as his candidate for second vice president.

So, what happened to Karzai's pro-western, liberal image. It's been seen as sign he's desperate for vote-blocks wherever he can get them.