Afghans have been praised for defying Taliban threats and turning out in their millions to vote in crucial elections, which the US called a "great achievement" while pledging "continued international support".<br /><br />More than 50 percent of registered voters - about seven million people - were estimated to have turned out on Saturday for local and presidential elections, which will usher the country's first democratic transfer of power.<br /><br />Preliminary results for the presidential poll are not due until April 24 and a run-off election is scheduled for May if there is no outright winner.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.
