BBC interviews Afghan general ahead of historic elections

General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the former Afghan warlord blamed for some of the worse atrocities in his country's bloody past, has told the BBC that he hopes for a "lawful transfer or power" in Saturday's presidential elections.

In a rare interview with a foreign broadcaster, the former commander who is now the running mate of presidential hopeful Dr Ashaf Ghani said he hoped that his alliance would be the ones to oversee his country's new future.

Eight candidates are vying for the presidency in historic elections on Saturday - with other former warlords among their teams.

The BBC's Kabul correspondent Karen Allen reports.