Accusations of violations and violence in second round of Egyptian elections
Egypt, Politics, 11/16/2005

Egyptian voters cast their votes in the runoff in the second phase of the legislative elections amid atmospheres of concern and tension that overwhelmed several heated election circles.

Al-Jazeera satellite TV in Egypt said that the repetition round witnessed fierce confrontation between the candidates of the ruling national party, numbers 98, and the candidates of the Muslim brothers, 42 candidates, under the almost absence of the opposition parties.

The Egyptian human rights committee said it received notifications of "acts of violence" by the supporters of the national party candidates in rivaling the candidates from the opposition and the Muslim Brothers, besides acts of beating against observers from the organizations.

The Egyptian State Information Service said that "Initial results of the runoff elections in 74 constituencies confirmed the winning of Dr. Sayed Meshaal, Minister of Military Production in Helwan, Hesham Moustafa Khalil in Qasr EI Nil, Haider Baghdadi in Gamaleya, Ragab Hilal Hemaida in Abdine. Hossam Badrawi, Fayda Kamel and Talaat Al Qawass lost in the runoff round. The assortment of votes was made in complete calm amidst neutrality on the part of security services and complete supervision by the judiciary."

For its part, the national committee for monitoring the elections said that large number of the supporters of the ruling national party supported by "professional rioters" were placed against the supporters of the Muslim Brothers in one of al-Sharqeyah circles.

Witnesses said that fights took place between supporters of two candidates in the old Egypt circle in Cairo, and the two exchanged fire resulted in injuring one woman.

In Asyout, witnesses said that "rioters are standing before several committees in order to prevent eligible voters from entering." They indicated that some of the voters and supporters of one candidate for the Muslim Brothers were beaten.

The national party got in the first round 26 seats for 4 seats for the Muslim Brothers and one seat for the independents. Other candidates including 98 from the national party and 2 Muslim Brothers, 120 independents and 7 for the national front for the change which include parties of al-Wafd, the Naserite coalition and Kefeyah movement and the two al-Wasat and al-Karamah parties are competing for 133 seats.

Previous Stories:
  On the coverage of the Egyptian elections   (11/15/2005)
  Egyptian court annuls Nasr City constituency results   (11/15/2005)
  Abul-Gheit: Egypt not responsible for failure to issue Bahrain declaration   (11/14/2005)

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