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 　　Hopes are high that Afghanistan's electionSaturday may result in the country's firstpeaceful transition of power in more than acentury. Militant attacks and electoral fraud arethe main threats to the vote for a newpresident, who will take over after PresidentHamid Karzai ends his second term. Afghanwomen, whose freedom has often beencurtailed, also worry about their future under anew government.

　　In this beauty parlor in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul,the presidential election is the main topic of conversation. Owner Balqis Azizi says it is notclear what the future will bring regardless of who is elected.

　　"We hope it will be good. It is a concern for all of us. What will happen? Nobody knows whatprograms the candidates have for the future. People are concerned about who is going to beelected," she said.

　　During the Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, women had to be all but invisible in Afghanistan.They could not leave the house without being accompanied by a male relative, they had to becompletely covered in public and most of them were not allowed to work outside the home.Their situation has improved since then, but there are fears that a new leader may reversesome of the gains made by women. Salma Hadari hopes this will not be the case.

　　"The next president should have good thinking, should have a good mind, he should respectwomen, he should let women work, like us, so that women go forward. He should think in amodern way; he should be a good man and should work for our country," said Hadari.

　　Kate Clark, country director at Afghanistan Analysts Network, says laws protect an Afghanwoman's right to education and employment but that in reality, men still control what a womancan do.

　　"Under the Taliban, women largely couldn't work unless they were in the health professions. Soit's now a legal thing to work; it's a legal thing for girls to go to school or go to university.There are women in parliament; there are quotas for women which have ensured there is femalerepresentation. But Afghanistan is still a deeply, deeply, deeply patriarchal society. There aremany women that can't go out," she said.

　　Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the elections, and recent brazen attacks in the heart ofKabul are clearly designed to keep voters away; but, Azizi says it is her duty to vote.

　　"Everyone's responsibility is to cast their ballot. These candidates look good to me, but let'ssee what will happen. We will cast our ballot and see what happens," said Azizi.

　　To help improve security at the polls, Afghan police have trained female officers to searchfemale voters. New police recruit Siddiqa says she is not afraid of anyone.

　　"My message for my other sisters is to come and join the police alongside their brothers andsisters - to defend their country,” she said.

　　Women in Afghanistan's urban areas seemed determined to vote but, analysts say that in therural south and east where the Taliban are strong, voter turnout could be weak among men aswell as women.

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