This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18463036#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Egypt starts presidential election run-off Egypt starts presidential election run-off
(about 3 hours later)
Egyptians are voting in a two-day run-off election to choose their first freely elected president.Egyptians are voting in a two-day run-off election to choose their first freely elected president.
Mohammed Mursi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, is up against Ahmed Shafiq, former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister.Mohammed Mursi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, is up against Ahmed Shafiq, former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister.
The ruling generals have vowed to hand over power to the winner by 30 June.The ruling generals have vowed to hand over power to the winner by 30 June.
But correspondents say there is less enthusiasm than there was for previous rounds of voting, and some have called for a boycott or spoiled ballots.But correspondents say there is less enthusiasm than there was for previous rounds of voting, and some have called for a boycott or spoiled ballots.
As polls opened on Saturday morning, there was little sign of the long queues that characterised the first round, or the parliamentary polls which took place between November and January. Around Cairo, it is relatively quiet on the sun-baked streets. Two days of national holiday were declared in an effort to boost voter turnout.
Particularly noticeable is the lack of young people voting, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo. Yet some Egyptians cannot be convinced to go to the polls. "I can't vote for Mohammed Mursi. His party failed every test in the past year. They were greedy and opportunist," rationalises Ahmed from Heliopolis. "If I voted for Ahmed Shafiq, I would betray my conscience."
Around Cairo, it is relatively quiet on the sun-baked streets. Two days of national holiday were declared in an effort to boost voter turnout. Voting has also been extended until 21:00, when it will be cooler. In the poor Imbaba district, there are only small queues outside polling stations. The community appears split between the two candidates. "Dr Mursi is the sound of truth. I will not vote for any faloul (remnant of the old regime)," says Iman, who wears the full face veil. A Christian woman, Nevine, disagrees: "Ahmed Shafiq is the better one. He has political experience and will control Egypt well."
Yet some Egyptians cannot be convinced to go to the polls. "I can't vote for Mohammed Mursi. His party failed every test in the past year. They were greedy and opportunist," rationalises Ahmed from Helipolis. "If I voted for Ahmed Shafiq, I would betray my conscience." There were early queues outside some polling stations on Saturday, but later they were reduced in some places to just a steady trickle of voters, reports the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo.
In the poor Imbaba district, there are only small queues outside polling stations. The community appears split between the two candidates. "Dr Mursi is the sound of truth. I will not vote for any faloul (remnant of the old regime). I lived 30 years of oppression," says Iman, who wears the full face veil. A Christian woman, Nevine, disagrees. "Ahmed Shafiq is the better one. He has political experience and will control Egypt well," she says. Particularly noticeable is the lack of young people voting, our correspondent says.
They seem to be particularly disenchanted with the choice between Mr Shafiq, a candidate seen as a representative of the old regime, and the Islamist Mr Morsi, our correspondent says. They seem to be particularly disenchanted with the choice between Mr Shafiq, a candidate seen as a representative of the old regime, and the Islamist Mr Mursi, he adds.
While state TV has been urging people to vote, some activists have been distributing flyers in several Cairo metro stations calling for a boycott.While state TV has been urging people to vote, some activists have been distributing flyers in several Cairo metro stations calling for a boycott.
Meanwhile, Mr Mursi's campaign held a press conference on Saturday afternoon in which it said several electoral violations had been reported, and urged voters to report any incidents. Mr Mursi's campaign held a news conference on Saturday afternoon in which it said several electoral violations had been reported, and urged voters to report any incidents.
Court intervention Parliament dissolved
The build-up to this weekend's run-off has been marred by a Supreme Constitutional Court decision that parliament had to be dissolved. Meanwhile, the top official in parliament, Sami Mahran, has told the BBC he has received a letter from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) confirming for the first time that the lower house, the People's Assembly, had been dissolved.
On Thursday, a panel of judges - appointed by Mr Mubarak - ruled that the law governing Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades was unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents. It follows a ruling from the Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday that the law governing Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades was unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents.
Mr Mursi's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won about 100 of its 235 seats in the People's Assembly by running candidates for individual seats. The ultraconservative Salafist Nour party also enjoyed similar success in seats designated for independents. Mr Mursi's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won some of its 235 seats in the People's Assembly by running candidates for individual seats, as did the ultraconservative Salafist Nour party.
If parliament is dissolved swiftly by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), whoever wins this weekend's presidential run-off could take office without the oversight of a sitting parliament, and without a permanent constitution to define his powers or duties. The Scaf's decision to dissolve parliament so swiftly means that whoever wins this weekend's presidential run-off could take office without the oversight of a sitting parliament and without a permanent constitution to define his powers or duties.
A 100-member assembly appointed by parliament earlier this week to draft the new constitution may also be dissolved. A 100-member assembly appointed by lower and upper houses of parliament earlier this week to draft the new constitution may also be dissolved.
Islamist, liberals and scholars denounced the ruling as a "coup", saying they feared the ruling generals would take back legislative power. Scaf officials have told state media that it now plans to issue a new interim constitution and potentially select a replacement constitutional panel itself.
Meanwhile, the Nobel laureate and former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, warned that Egypt was suffering under worse conditions now than under Mr Mubarak. The Nobel laureate and former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, warned that Egypt was suffering under worse conditions now than under Mr Mubarak, and that it was on the brink of allowing a "new emperor" to establish total domination.
"We are in a total mess, a confused process that - assuming good intentions - has led us nowhere except the place we were at 18 months ago, but under even more adverse conditions," he told the Guardian."We are in a total mess, a confused process that - assuming good intentions - has led us nowhere except the place we were at 18 months ago, but under even more adverse conditions," he told the Guardian.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet in Cairo says the ruling generals insist they are moving Egypt towards civilian rule.The BBC's Lyse Doucet in Cairo says the ruling generals insist they are moving Egypt towards civilian rule.
And with some newly restored powers of arrest and interrogation for soldiers, they are warning any effort to disrupt the run-off vote will be dealt with firmly, our correspondent adds.And with some newly restored powers of arrest and interrogation for soldiers, they are warning any effort to disrupt the run-off vote will be dealt with firmly, our correspondent adds.
'Return stability' The Muslim Brotherhood has called on voters to "isolate" Mr Shafiq, whom it calls "the representative of the former regime", while Mr Shafiq has said he will restore stability to Egypt.
On Friday, the Muslim Brotherhood vowed to win the presidency despite the signs of opposition within both the military and judiciary, which is overseeing the vote. Mr Shafiq came second in last month's first round, in which turnout among the 52 million eligible voters was only 46%. Official results gave Mr Mursi 24.8% and Mr Shafiq 23.7%.
"Isolate the representative of the former regime through the ballot box," said a statement referring to Mr Shafiq, who also served as head of the air force and minister of aviation during Mr Mubarak's 29 years in power. Voting at 13,000 polling stations, spread across Egypt's 27 governorates, is being held over Saturday and Sunday, from 08:00 (06:00 GMT) to 20:00 (18:00 GMT). Voting on Saturday has already been extended until 21:00.
Mr Mursi meanwhile sought to reassure the military and its supporters within the electorate that he would work closely with the generals.
"As president, they will be in my heart and will get my attention... they will never do anything to harm the nation," he said.
His opponent meanwhile told a rally that the court rulings were "historic" and that the "era of political score-settling" had ended.
He came second in last month's first round, in which turnout among the 52 million eligible voters was only 46%. Official results gave Mr Mursi 24.8% and Mr Shafiq 23.7%.
Voting at 13,000 polling stations, spread across Egypt's 27 governorates, is being held over Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 (06:00 GMT) to 20:00 (18:00 GMT). Voting on Saturday has already been extended until 21:00.
Some 400,000 soldiers and police have been deployed.
Final results from the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC) are due by 21 June, but are expected to arrive much earlier. Partial results from the first round were declared within 24 hours.Final results from the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC) are due by 21 June, but are expected to arrive much earlier. Partial results from the first round were declared within 24 hours.
Are you in Egypt? Will you be voting? What are your thoughts on the electoral process? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.Are you in Egypt? Will you be voting? What are your thoughts on the electoral process? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.