Azizullah Loden, chief of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC), shows the list of the approved presidential candidates during a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 16, 2009. The IEC on Saturday announced the preliminary list of the presidential candidates and published the names and photos of all 44 contenders including two female politicians for the Aug. 20 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna) Photo Gallery>>>

    KABUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- An official of Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) Saturday officially announced the preliminary list of candidates for presidential and provincial council election set for Aug. 20.

    "The preliminary candidate list of presidential and provincial council election is officially announced by IEC today (May 16th) which is available at IEC headquarters office and provincial offices," head of the IEC secretariat Daud Ali Najafi told reporters in a press conference.

    Najafi added that the official challenge period would begin from May 16th till May 21st during which all eligible Afghans have the opportunity to file their complaints against any target candidates announced in preliminary list by IEC.

The list of some of the presidential candidates is seen after being approved by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC), in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 16, 2009. The IEC on Saturday announced the preliminary list of the presidential candidates and published the names and photos of all 44 contenders including two female politicians for the Aug. 20 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna) Photo Gallery>>>

    The preliminary list includes photos and electoral symbols of 44 aspirants, including two female candidates and incumbent President Hamid Karzai who led Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban in late 2001.

    Concerns about attacks by Taliban insurgents have prompted NATO troops to send in thousands of extra soldiers to shore up security for upcoming election.

    Reportedly 2,500 troops out of 21,000 combat soldiers and military advisors which pledge by U.S. President Barak Obama's administration have been deployed in southern region to boost security ahead of Afghanistan's second presidential election since2001.