Egyptian elections

Two Islamist parties have won more than 60 percent of the vote in the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections, official results showed Sunday.

Figures released by Egypt's election commission gave the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party 36.6 percent of the valid ballots cast, compared with 24.3 percent for the ultraconservative Islamist Nour Party.

The liberal Egyptian Bloc took 13.4 percent of the vote.

The opening stage of Egypt's first parliamentary election since authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February saw a 62 percent turnout. More than eight million voters participated, the highest turnout in Egypt's modern history.

The parliamentary election is taking place in three stages over a period of six weeks with the first stage determining 30 percent of the 498-seat People's Assembly, the lower house of the legislature.

The Muslim Brotherhood, although banned under Mubarak, had established a broad social base over a period of decades, which it has now capitalized on at the polls.

The Nour Party considers democracy subordinate to the Quran, wants to ban alcohol and believes women and Christians should not hold public office.

"In the land of Islam, I can't let people decide what is permissible or what is prohibited," Nour Party spokesman Yousseri Hamad told the Associated Press. "It is God who gives the answers as to what is right and what is wrong."

It is not clear whether the two Freedom and Justice Party and the Nour Party will seek to form a coalition in parliament.

A new constitution

Stakes are high since the future parliament will draft a new constitution for Egypt. Coptic Christians, who make up 9 percent of the country's population, worry they will face discrimination if Islamist parties win the polls.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Force (SCAF), the military junta currently ruling Egypt, has said the transition to civilian rule would be completed by next summer. The Egyptian military, once admired for not firing on protesters during the Mubarak uprising, now faces accusations that it is trying to cement its influence over future civilian governments.

In the run-up to last Monday's election, violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Tahrir Square led to 42 deaths and widespread condemnation by the international community.

Shortly before the election, the SCAF apologized for the deaths, appointed a new prime minister and accelerated the schedule for the presidential election. Despite these advances, protesters have continued to demand an immediate transition to a civilian government.

Author: Spencer Kimball, Chuck Penfold (dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler