Cabinet discusses five reports on results of elections first, second phases

Voters head today for polling stations in 8 governorates to elect 160 new People's Assembly members in the third phase of elections out of 1325 candidates belonging to various parties and independents.

The elections will be held inside more than 5087 sub-polling stations under full judiciary supervision and amid great concern by observers.

The cabinet held a meeting yesterday under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid to review the results of first and second phases of the elections.

The cabinet expressed hope that the positive climate which prevailed, under full judicial supervision, in the first two stages of People's Assembly elections would prevail in the third stage.

Minister of Information Safwat AL Sherif said the cabinet stressed the role and responsibility of security agencies in maintaining the security of citizens and abort any attempt to influence voters.

Sherif said the reports reviewed by the cabinet on elections of the first two stages showed that the elections were held in complete neutrality which asserts that the new experiment of practicing democracy in Egypt and placing it under judicial supervision was successful and unprecedented.

The march of political reform is being strengthened and is realizing the hopes of President Mubarak, and the entire Egyptian people, that the elections will express the will of the wide base of the masses.

Reports reviewed by the cabinet were referred to it by Youssef Wali, Secretary-General of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the ministries of Justice and Interior and NDP Assistant Secretary-General and Minister for People's Assembly and Shura Council affairs Kamal El Shazly and the Minister of Information who is also NDP Assistant Secretary General.

Sherif said there was a bigger turnout at the second stage than in the first stage of the elections.

The turnout at the first and second stages was bigger than at any previous elections held in Egypt.

The present elections were held in an atmosphere of stability and security men were keen on providing a security climate which enables Egyptian voters to go to polling stations without any interference or any attempt to influence them.

Sherif said that reports showed that the National Democratic Party ( NDP ) won 233 seats (82.6 per cent) of total seats in the first and second stages which number hit 282 seats.

Independents and other parties won 17.4 per cent of total seats.

The independents won 39 seats and the opposition parties 10 seats.

The NDP Secretary-General explained that these figures are apart from the number of winning members who joined NDP after the results were made Public.

NDP will not accept independent candidates who cooperated with others in the electoral process against the NDP.

Sherif said the reports showed that the picture of elections in Egypt in international media was honorable and positive.

The elections process is the best evidence of true democratic practice being practiced by the Egyptian society, a practice which is unique and different from those of countries of the area even at world level and was recognized by all political forces at home and at international forums abroad.

Sherif said the reports also showed that the Minster of Justice was fully prepared to arrange judicial presence polling stations.

The Ministry of Interior is also prepared to provide security presence. Estimates indicate that elections in the third stage will take place at 5078 committees. A total of 1325 candidates are competing in the third stage to win 150 seats.