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| Egypt elections enter second round | Egypt elections enter second round |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Egyptian voters are going to the polls for the second round in the country's lengthy post-revolution election process. | |
| The first round earlier this month was dominated by Islamist parties, with the party of the Muslim Brotherhood claiming around 47% of seats. | The first round earlier this month was dominated by Islamist parties, with the party of the Muslim Brotherhood claiming around 47% of seats. |
| Islamists are expected to build on their success in this round to win more seats in the lower house of parliament. | Islamists are expected to build on their success in this round to win more seats in the lower house of parliament. |
| The elections are the first since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February. | The elections are the first since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February. |
| The aim is to elect a parliament which will then appoint a committee to draft a new constitution for the post-revolution era. | |
| Voting has been staggered over three months to allow each round to be carefully supervised by the judiciary. | Voting has been staggered over three months to allow each round to be carefully supervised by the judiciary. |
| Wednesday's round is taking place in nine regions, including some outer districts of the capital, Cairo, and in more rural regions around the Nile Delta, traditionally a stronghold of political Islam. | Wednesday's round is taking place in nine regions, including some outer districts of the capital, Cairo, and in more rural regions around the Nile Delta, traditionally a stronghold of political Islam. |
| Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) and voting will take place over two days. | |
| Two further rounds will be held in January before a presidential election is held in mid-2012. | Two further rounds will be held in January before a presidential election is held in mid-2012. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says Islamist candidates are expected to build on their earlier gains, with the hardline Islamist Salafists forecast to do particularly well in the conservative areas. Secularist and liberal candidates have been trailing in third place so far. | The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says Islamist candidates are expected to build on their earlier gains, with the hardline Islamist Salafists forecast to do particularly well in the conservative areas. Secularist and liberal candidates have been trailing in third place so far. |
| But the divide between the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafists is as important as that between the religious and secular parties, says our correspondent. | But the divide between the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafists is as important as that between the religious and secular parties, says our correspondent. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood are putting themselves forward as more moderate and pragmatic, while the more uncompromising Salafists are more in touch with the poorer sections of Egyptian society, he adds. | The Muslim Brotherhood are putting themselves forward as more moderate and pragmatic, while the more uncompromising Salafists are more in touch with the poorer sections of Egyptian society, he adds. |
| Mr Mubarak stepped down in February after weeks of large-scale political protests in Cairo and across the country which formed a key part of the regional Arab Spring uprisings. | Mr Mubarak stepped down in February after weeks of large-scale political protests in Cairo and across the country which formed a key part of the regional Arab Spring uprisings. |
| The military took over the running of the country but it has been accused in recent months of trying to slow down the transition to civilian rule and safeguard its own interests. | The military took over the running of the country but it has been accused in recent months of trying to slow down the transition to civilian rule and safeguard its own interests. |
| Protesters have again taken to the streets and last month saw further deadly clashes with demonstrators angry at the slow pace of reform. | Protesters have again taken to the streets and last month saw further deadly clashes with demonstrators angry at the slow pace of reform. |