Violence mars Pakistan elections

ISLAMABAD, Friday (BBC) Counting has begun in the second round of Pakistan's local elections, marred by violence in which at least 22 people have been killed.

The elections took place in more than 50 districts out of a total of 110 across the country.

Supporters of President Musharraf did well in the first round of polls held last week.

These are the second such elections since President Pervez Musharraf took power in Pakistan in 1999.

A record 218,000 candidates, including more than 55,000 women, contested the elections.

Early indications of turnout suggest a varied picture across the country.

In some parts of Rawalpindi city more than 50% of those registered cast their vote, whereas in Lahore and elsewhere in Punjab province turnout was relatively low.

Reports suggest a lower turnout in North West Frontier Province and Balochistan, but a relatively higher turnout in Sindh, the BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says.

During Thursday's voting, 14 people were killed in Punjab province, four in Balochistan, and two in Sindh and North West Frontier Province respectively, according to BBC correspondents in Pakistan.

Four others were killed near the town of Larkana in Sindh as they returned home from casting their votes.

But police said that these deaths were related to an old tribal rivalry, not the elections.

More than 150 people were also injured in sporadic incidents of violence.

One provincial assembly member and one police officer were also detained in Sindh for interfering with the polling process.

Tens of thousands of army soldiers, paramilitary troops and police were deployed to guard polling stations.

Turnout in the first phase of polling was more than 50%, the election commission said.

At least 15 people died in violence in the first round of voting.

Opposition parties have accused the government of serious irregularities during polling and have disputed the turnout figure - a charge strongly denied by election officials.

Most opposition parties have also accused President Musharraf of using the system to undermine democracy.