Afghanistan's presidential hopefuls

Afghans are due to choose their first democratically elected president on 9 October. Here are some pen portraits of the key candidates.

HAMID KARZAI

Afghanistan's interim president is 46 and the favourite to win the presidency.

A powerful Pashtun leader from the Taleban's former stronghold of Kandahar, he has wasted no time in carving out a high profile at home and abroad.

Well educated, Westernised and stylish, Mr Karzai is seen by many outside the country as the best bet to lead Afghanistan.

But he is facing a strong array of opponents and the question is whether he can win outright in round one or whether he will have to go to a run-off two weeks later.

ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM

The Uzbek general is the most high-profile candidate challenging Mr Karzai.

A veteran strongman and survivor of many wars, he can bank on the votes of many of his fellow Uzbeks in the north.

The general's controversial career has been marked by an ability to survive by switching sides in Afghanistan's complex web of shifting alliances.

In the past three decades, he fought with and against Soviet troops, backed the Taleban and eventually threw his lot in with the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance.

YUNUS QANUNI

A former education minister, Mr Qanuni is a leading figure in the Northern Alliance which helped the US overthrow the Taleban in 2001.

He has secured the backing of the powerful defence minister, Mohammad Fahim, who was dropped by Mr Karzai as his running mate.

Mr Qanuni can rely on the support of the Tajiks of his native Panjshir region, north of Kabul, and is viewed as Mr Karzai's main challenger but is said to have limited nationwide appeal.

MOHAMMED MOHAQIQ

Mr Mohaqiq is the leader of minority Shia Hazaras of central Afghanistan although he is from the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Like most of Mr Karzai's challengers, he is running as an independent.

He has a very loyal following among the Hazaras and is also likely to get many votes from Hazaras still living as refugees in Iran and Pakistan.

DR MASOODA JALAL

The only female candidate, Dr Jalal is expected to get plenty of media attention but may find it more difficult winning votes.

A qualified paediatrician from Kabul, she made her presence felt when she challenged President Karzai in the first loya jirga (grand council) after the Taleban were ousted.

Dr Jalal will hope to get plenty of support from Afghan women, who make up two-thirds of the population.

AHMAD SHAH AHMADZAI

A qualified engineer, Mr Ahmadzai belongs to the religious right and was a former prime minister and ally of the mujahideen leader and hardliner, Abdul Rasul Sayyaf.

An ethnic Pashtun, he will be take some votes away from Mr Karzai in the south and east.

Some feel that he will be able to cash in on anti-American sentiments in the conservative Pashtun areas.

SAYED ISHAQ GAILANI

Another member of the majority Pashtuns, Mr Gailani belongs to one of Afghanistan's most influential religious families.

A strong supporter of the monarchy, he is among those who have campaigned for a bigger political role for the former king, Zahir Shah.

On the final day of campaigning - two days before polling - he announced he would now support Mr Karzai's candidacy.

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The other candidates are:

• Hamayon Shah Asifi

• Abdul Satar Serat

• Abdul Latif Pedram

• Syed Abdul Hadi Dabir

• Abdul Hafiz Mansoor

• Mir Mohammad Mahfouz Nedaye

• Ghulam Farooq Nijrabi

• Abdul Hadi Khalilzai

• Asif Aryan (pulled out on final day of campaign)

• Wakil Mangal

• Mohammad Ebrahim Rashid

Abdul Hasib Aryan