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Islamists poised to consolidate in Egyptian polls
Egypt`s first free election in six decades is unfolding in three stages until January.
Voting has been relatively peaceful, with no major irregularities reported.
Egypt`s moderate Islamists -- the Muslim Brotherhood -- emerged as the largest force in the first round of elections with their Freedom and Justice Party winning 36 per cent of the popular vote. But the surprise showing came from the radical Salafist al Nour party that grabbed almost 25 per cent of the vote.
Islamists are set to consolidate their gains this week, with polling taking place in more rural and conservative areas, the BBC reported. But unlike the previous phase, almost all polling stations opened on time, according to the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections.
State television did report, however, that that one polling station in Giza was closed for three hours after a shoot-out between rival candidates. No-one was killed, while seven people were detained by security forces. About 18 million Egyptians are eligible to vote in two days of polls and a run-off being held a week later.
"We will not rule Egypt alone. Parliament will include all the colours of the rainbow that must agree on one direction, one goal," the Muslim Brotherhood`s General Guide, Mohammed Badie, said as he sought to reassure voters that the Islamic party wanted to form a broad coalition.
Islamist candidates are expected to build on their earlier gains, with the ultraconservative Salafist al-Nour Party forecast to do particularly well in the conservative areas, the BBC said. Al-Nour won 24.4 per cent in the first round`s party-list vote and five individual seats.
The Egyptian liberal parties managed roughly 30 per cent of the vote together. While the first round laid out a trend, the second round would decide how the future political landscape of Egypt would look like.
While the Brotherhood has tried hard to press itself as a moderate force that will not impose Islamic laws on Egypt, the radicals have made no bones of their hardline agenda. The developments have left Egypt`s minority Christians and secular liberals worried over their future in the country.
Some are hoping the second round of polls might tilt the balance towards the liberal Egyptian bloc.
After a dismal showing in the first round, the Egypt bloc has coordinated with the "revolution continues", a coalition of Leftist and revolutionaries parties. The coordination resulted in a unified list of independent candidates for all constituencies that poll today.
Several young activists associated with Egypt`s January 25 Revolution will feature on the coalition`s ticket, including Khaled Talima, Mohamed El-Kassas and Islam Lotfi. The liberal electoral coalition includes the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the liberal Free Egyptians party and the leftist Tagammu Party and will compete for 30 per cent of the seats reserved for independent candidates in the second stage.
The second round is covering nine of Egypt`s 27 governorates, including Giza, Beni Sueif, Sohag, Aswan, Menoufiya, Sharqiya, Beheira, Ismailia and Suez. Run-off elections are slated for 21 and 22 December.
The run up to the second round of elections has not been as quiet as the first round.
In Sinai, the nephew of female candidates of the Egyptian bloc was allegedly kidnapped to pressure the nominee to step down, though she has not. Violent incidents like opening of fire on rallies were also reported from some parts.
Security was beefed up once again with the new minister of interior vowed to tune preparations. The long and complex election process will not be completed until next month.
The aim is to elect a lower house of parliament, which will then appoint a 100-member committee to draft a new constitution.
Under Egypt`s complex electoral system, two-thirds of the 498 elected seats in the People`s Assembly will be picked through proportional representation, using lists drawn up by parties and alliances.
The remaining seats are decided by a first-past-the-post- system, with individual candidates required to win more than 50 per cent of the votes to avoid a run-off contest.
Two-thirds of members for both houses elected by PR One-third chosen by first-past-the-post system Provinces divided into three groups, voting on different dates.
The second round is taking place over two days in nine governorates, which include some outer districts of the capital Cairo, and more rural regions around the Nile Delta, traditionally a stronghold of Political Islam.
Just as in the first round, queues formed early at some polling stations, though one group of observers said it was limited to the governorates of Giza and Buhaira. Secularist and liberal candidates have been trailing in third place so far.
The secular Egyptian Bloc came third in the first round with 13.4 per cent of the vote, followed by the liberal Wafd Party with 7.1 per cent and the moderate Islamist Wasat Party with 4.3 per cent. The Revolution Continues, a group formed by youth activists behind the uprising that ousted Mubarak in February, won 3.5 per cent.
The election`s second round is taking place over two days in nine governorates But the divide between the Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafists is as important as that between the religious and secular parties, BBC says.
The Muslim Brotherhood are putting themselves forward as more moderate and pragmatic, while the more uncompromising Salafists are more in touch with the poorer sections of Egyptian society, he adds.
Mubarak stepped down in February after weeks of large-scale political protests in Cairo and across the country.
The military took over the running of the country, but it has been accused in recent months of trying to slow down the transition to civilian rule and safeguard its own interests. Protesters angry at the slow pace of reform have taken to the streets, and last month 42 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
PTI