PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3<br /> <br />Afghanistan's outgoing President Hamid Karzai is praising the high turnout for Saturday's election.<br /> <br />Seven million of the country's 12 million eligible voters headed to polling stations to vote for his successor in defiance of Taliban threats of violence.<br /> <br />Karzai says it's a leap of progress.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Dari) AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYING:<br /> <br />"The Afghan nation today has put in practice its dream to participate in voting. Despite the cold and rainy weather and possible terrorist attacks our sisters and brothers nation-wide embraced this election and their participation is a step forward and a success for Afghanistan."<br /> <br />It wasn't all smooth running, partly because organisers hadn't expected such a high turnout.<br /> <br />Some polling centres ran short of ballot papers.<br /> <br />The Independent Election Commission ordered an extension to voting hours to allow time for the documents to arrive.
