Egyptians queue to cast ballots in presidential poll
The BBC's Lyse Doucet said scuffles had broke out amongst some desperate to vote
Egyptians are voting for the second day in the country's first free presidential elections - 15 months after Hosni Mubarak was ousted.
Queues were reported at some polling stations, and media reports said turnout was higher than on Wednesday.The election pits Islamists against secularists, and revolutionaries against Mubarak-era ministers.
The military council which assumed presidential power in February 2011 has promised a fair vote and civilian rule.
On Wednesday, there were large queues in many places, and voting passed off calmly for the most part.
However, protesters in Cairo threw shoes and stones at a convoy of candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who was Mr Mubarak's last prime minister.
Continue reading the main story 
The long lines outside polling stations that we visited in central Cairo yesterday have now disappeared.
"It's because we're much more organised than yesterday," said a judge in Garden City. He says turnout here has already reached 50% and he is bracing himself for a rush when people vote after work.
In Mohandisseen men are having to wait just a few minutes before casting their ballots.
"In the past year, we've developed a good system," says a friendly police officer managing security. "The Egyptian people are really fast learners."
"I came at this time because I knew it would be quieter," says Omar Adel. "All my family came yesterday."
Tariq, an engineer, came home from Dubai to cast a vote. "I came just for the election. This is our future," he tells me.
He sums up the categories of candidate he sees on offer. "We have three different types: the old regime, the Muslim Brotherhood and the revolution. Of course I'm supporting the revolution," he winks.
Analysis
"It's because we're much more organised than yesterday," said a judge in Garden City. He says turnout here has already reached 50% and he is bracing himself for a rush when people vote after work.
In Mohandisseen men are having to wait just a few minutes before casting their ballots.
"In the past year, we've developed a good system," says a friendly police officer managing security. "The Egyptian people are really fast learners."
"I came at this time because I knew it would be quieter," says Omar Adel. "All my family came yesterday."
Tariq, an engineer, came home from Dubai to cast a vote. "I came just for the election. This is our future," he tells me.
He sums up the categories of candidate he sees on offer. "We have three different types: the old regime, the Muslim Brotherhood and the revolution. Of course I'm supporting the revolution," he winks.
There were also reports that a group of female voters has been denied access to a polling station in the capital because they were wearing a full face veil.
The US hailed the election, with State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland describing it as a "milestone" in Egypt's transition to democracy.Fifty million people are eligible to vote, and preliminary results are expected over the weekend.
In all, 13 candidates are running. The front-runners are:
- Ahmed Shafiq, a former commander of the air force and briefly prime minister during February 2011 protests
- Amr Moussa, who has served as foreign minister and head of the Arab League
- Mohammed Mursi, who heads Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
- Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh, an independent Islamist candidate
'Elections under tanks'
Voting across the country resumed at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT). The authorities have declared Thursday a holiday.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says some Egyptians may have been waiting for a second day of voting to avoid crowds.
Local TV reporters in several locations said turnout was higher than on the first day.
But in Alexandria the opposite appeared to be true, and military police were seen driving around urging people to vote.
Continue reading the main story 
Egypt Viewpoints
“Start Quote
Karim HusseinWe have faith in God that history will treat President Mubarak with justice”
Voting has now been extended until after 20:00.
NGOs and rights groups monitoring the election have reported some complaints. Egypt's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) told the BBC it had received 50 complaints on electoral violations ranging from delay in opening voting booths, to campaigning for candidates outside polling stations during voting.
And a row erupted between two of the main candidates, Mr Moussa and Mr Shafiq, with each circulating rumours that the other was pulling out in their favour.
Meanwhile young people in Cairo told the BBC they had doubts about the vote.
"Has the revolution accomplished all of its goals? No," said Dina Kassem.
"You know we still have so much to go [sic] like any other country. The French revolution took how many years? But you can see the fact of it today. And that's what we're hoping to bring to Egypt."
Assia Krim was less hopeful.
"Everyone is disappointed after the revolution. Elections under a military regime are not elections. Elections under tanks, I'm sorry - they are not elections," she said.
Reassurance Counting will begin as soon as polls close, and some individual polling stations are expected to announce their results by Friday morning.
The results will then be collated and announced in full on Tuesday. No clear picture is likely to emerge until then.
Continue reading the main story
Other prominent candidates
- Muhammad al-Awwa, Islamic thinker
- Hisham al-Bastawisi, leading judge
- Abu al-Izz al-Hariri, Socialist MP
- Khalid Ali, Left-wing rights activist
- Hamdin Sabbahi, co-founder of Nasserist Karama party
A run-off vote is scheduled for 16 and 17 June if no candidate manages to get more that 50% of the votes.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), worried about potential post-election unrest, has sought to reassure Egyptians that it will be the voters themselves who decide who will be the next president.The Arab Spring began last year in Tunisia, inspiring pro-democracy activists across the Arab world.
Mr Mubarak, who was in power for three decades, resigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of protests in Cairo and other cities.
He is on trial for his alleged role in the deaths of protesters. A verdict is expected in June.
The period since he was forced from power have been turbulent, with continued violent protests and a deteriorating economy.
0 orang berkata:
Post a Comment