Taliban recruit young fighters as attacks rise ahead of Afghan vote

Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah shakes hands with his supporters during a campaign rally in Daykundi province June 1, 2014. REUTERS/Rahmat Gul/Pool

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents intent on disrupting a run-off in the Afghan presidential election have begun recruiting fighters from radical Islamic schools, and ramped up their campaign of violence, officials and sources say.

The number of weekly attacks rose by around 10 percent to more than 350 incidents - including suicide attacks, gun-battles and roadside bombs - in the final week of May, according to a Western security firm.