Afghanistan getting ready for next month's elections

The people of Afghanistan are getting ready for next month's elections... where they'll choose a president and their provincial council. Meanwhile, security is tightening in a country where, this month, US and British forces have suffered their highest casualties of this eight year war.

A man (L) eats an ice-cream under posters of the candidates for  Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election in Kabul July 28, 2009. Afghanistan's presidential elections will be held on August 20. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood(AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS POLITICS SOCIETY)

It will be the third time Afghanistan goes to the polls since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

President Hamid Karzai is considered the favorite to win a second five-year term.

Karzai's only serious competition in the 39-candidate field is believed to be former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, who could force a runoff if a low turnout prevents Karzai from claiming a majority of the votes.

The nation's rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure add to the difficulty of conducting an election as fighting among Taliban, US and NATO forces rages across the southern and eastern provinces.