Start of parliamentary elections held in Egypt

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians turned out to cast their ballots for a new parliament yesterday as the first phase of the month-long voting process kicked off.

Around 10,644 polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. in the eight governorates of Cairo, Giza, Menufiya, Assuit, Minya, Beni Sueif, the New Valley, and Mersa Mattruh.

This first round of voting involved a total of 1,635 candidates eying 164 of the People's Assembly's 444 seats.

Glass ballot boxes and phosphoric ink were used for the first time in the election process which was held under the supervision of the judiciary.

Some 13,500 judges supervised the elections which were monitored by the NGOs, civil society organizations in coordination with the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights.

The results of the first round are expected today and run-offs will be contested on November 15, before the second phase of polling kicks off five days later, official sources said.

After casting his ballot, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said the new parliament would cooperate with the Government to fulfill President Hosni Mubarak's commitments. He also told the Middle East News Agency (MENA) that the nation would enjoy the benefits of more political and economic reforms in the near future.

The main novelties in the polls are the use of transparent ballot boxes and the authorisation granted to 2,723 members of civil organizations to monitor the poll, Minister of Justice Mahmoud Abu Leil said after voting in the Cairo area of Sayydah Zeinab.

The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) currerently controls the majority of seats in the People's Assembly (lower house of the bi-cameral Egyptian parliament). But the opposition is hoping to make substantial gains during these elections which are under the full supervision of the judiciary.