AFGHANISTAN At voting centers, ballots pour in

The turnout was called 'a victory of the Afghan people over terrorism.'
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Ballot boxes poured into counting centers today for a tally of the troubled presidential election in Afghanistan amid signs an opposition boycott was wavering after at least two candidates agreed to accept the ruling of an independent panel's inquiry.
Election organizers hope their decision, announced late Sunday, to establish a panel of about three foreign election experts to investigate the balloting will end the boycott, which many fear could seriously undermine the winner's ability to rule this war-ravaged nation.
A senior Western official who met with some of the 15 candidates said many had decided to back down and support the investigative team.
"Some of the candidates say they made that statement [the boycott] in too much of a rush," the official said on condition of anonymity. "They are now looking for a way out that allows them to save face."
Crisis isn't over
Only two candidates have publicly backed down, however, and the crisis was by no means over today.
Election observers, the U.S. Embassy and U.S.-backed interim President Hamid Karzai have all sought to put the best face possible on Saturday's vote, noting that Taliban rebels were mostly silent and that turnout was high in a nation that has never before tasted democracy.
"The numbers and enthusiasm both were very, very great. It was unbelievable. A day of celebration, really, for the Afghan people," Karzai said today on NBC's "Today" show. "People braved attacks by terrorists and went to the election. ... This is really a victory of the Afghan people over terrorism."
Karzai added that the election should be a slap in the face to Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaida followers.
"This election ... is a strong reminder to him that people don't want them, that the people want a different life. So he should be much more afraid today than he was the day before yesterday or before that. He must be trying to hide even in a tighter place than he was a few days ago. We will find him one day, sooner or later," Karzai said.
Boxes of ballots, some arriving by mule, were not expected to finish reaching counting centers until at least Tuesday.
What must be done
Before the tallying of votes can start, the numbers of received ballots are checked against a list of votes cast to ensure none of the ballot boxes have been stuffed with fraudulent votes, U.N. officials said.
Then, ballots from various districts are mixed together so no one knows which area favored which candidate.
Actual counting may not start until Wednesday or Thursday, said electoral spokesman Sultan Baheen. Final results were not expected until the end of October.
"The counting will be done in full view of cameras," Karzai told NBC. "Afghan television will telecast it direct from the counting stations. I am confident enough the count will be conducted properly."
Security chiefs in the provinces and Baheen said no major attacks had been reported on the transporting of the ballot boxes.
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David Barno, told The Associated Press the election could sound the rebels' death knell, and that Taliban leaders might "eventually look for ways to reconcile with the government that comes in."