This month, Karzai made a rare trip outside his presidential palace to woo voters in Baghlan province.

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Afghans in Baghlan are afraid to leave their homes to cast their ballots, Afghan security officials said.

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Major fighting continued for a second day in the city of Baghlan, north of Kabul, security sources said.

CNN: Officials hail Afghan vote a success despite deaths

Germany news agency DPA reported that the defence minister was visiting the Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan on Thursday and had spent the night with German forces in one of the most dangerous areas in which they were operating.

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He's from the northern Baghlan province.

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