Obama says Afghan elections 'important step forward'

US President Barack Obama hailed Friday Afghanistan's presidential elections as an "important step forward" for the war-torn country and pledged America's support to the new government.

"This was an important step forward in the Afghan people's efforts to take control of their future, even as violent extremists are trying to stand in their way," Obama said.

"We look forward to renewing our partnership with the Afghan people as they move ahead under a new government."

Thursday's presidential and provincial elections were widely seen as a success with far less violence than expected, although officials said 11 election workers were killed in insurgent attacks.

Bomb blasts and rocket attacks across the country on election day also left 26 Afghan security forces and civilians dead.

Officials have called for calm ahead of definitive results next month as President Hamid Karzai declared a decisive win and his main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, insisted that he was in fact ahead.

"This election was run by the Afghan people. In fact, it was the first democratic election run by Afghans in over three decades," said Obama, who stressed that his administration had not backed any particular candidate.

"Over the last few days, and particularly, yesterday, we've seen acts of violence and intimidation by the Taliban and there may be more in the days to come," Obama said.

"We knew that the Taliban would try to derail this election, yet even in the face of this brutality, millions of Afghans exercised the right to choose their leaders and determine their own destiny.

"As I watched the election, I was struck by their courage in the face of intimidation and their dignity in the face of disorder."

-AFP