Even as John Kerry denigrates their achievements for political gain, the people of Afghanistan are voting in a historic election.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghans have braved threats of Taliban attacks to begin voting in a historic presidential election that they hope will mark the beginning of the end to a quarter century of conflict.

Heavily guarded polling stations in Afghanistan opened at 7:00 a.m. (3:30 a.m. British time) and will close at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, although Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan started voting half an hour earlier.