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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Egypt presidential poll result delayed as tensions rise | Egypt presidential poll result delayed as tensions rise |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The results of Egypt's presidential run-off has been delayed by the election authorities, further raising tension across the polarised country. | The results of Egypt's presidential run-off has been delayed by the election authorities, further raising tension across the polarised country. |
| They had been due to be announced on Thursday, but the election commission said it needed more time to look into complaints presented by the candidates. | They had been due to be announced on Thursday, but the election commission said it needed more time to look into complaints presented by the candidates. |
| Both Islamist Mohammed Mursi and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq claim they won last weekend's vote. | Both Islamist Mohammed Mursi and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq claim they won last weekend's vote. |
| Thousands of opposition supporters are protesting in Cairo's Tahrir Square. | |
| They have gathered to demonstrate against the delay in announcing the poll result and also against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) - the military council that has led the country since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year. | They have gathered to demonstrate against the delay in announcing the poll result and also against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) - the military council that has led the country since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood called people into the square to voice their outrage over recent constitutional amendments which gave the Scaf sweeping political and legislative powers. | The Muslim Brotherhood called people into the square to voice their outrage over recent constitutional amendments which gave the Scaf sweeping political and legislative powers. |
| Meanwhile the 84-year-old Mubarak remains in critical condition at an army hospital in Cairo. | |
| He is said to have had a series of strokes and to be on a life-support machine, but there has been no official word on his condition. | |
| Earlier this month Mubarak was convicted to life in prison for his role in the death of protesters during the revolution which ousted him last February. | Earlier this month Mubarak was convicted to life in prison for his role in the death of protesters during the revolution which ousted him last February. |
| Since then there have been a number of reports that his health has worsened, but this appears to be the most serious deterioration so far. | Since then there have been a number of reports that his health has worsened, but this appears to be the most serious deterioration so far. |
| However, correspondents say there will be fears that the state of Mubarak's health could be used as a distraction, as Egypt waits for the result of the hotly disputed election. | However, correspondents say there will be fears that the state of Mubarak's health could be used as a distraction, as Egypt waits for the result of the hotly disputed election. |
| 'Limbo' | 'Limbo' |
| On Wednesday, the Higher Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) said that some 400 election complaints had been filed by the two candidates. | On Wednesday, the Higher Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) said that some 400 election complaints had been filed by the two candidates. |
| The commission said it need more time to investigate the complaints, without giving any new date for the announcement of the results. | The commission said it need more time to investigate the complaints, without giving any new date for the announcement of the results. |
| However, media reports suggest that the poll winner could be declared over the weekend. | However, media reports suggest that the poll winner could be declared over the weekend. |
| Nader Omran, a spokesman for Mr Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, told the BBC that the announcement should not have been delayed. | Nader Omran, a spokesman for Mr Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, told the BBC that the announcement should not have been delayed. |
| "It will bring more tension to the people - they should end the story tomorrow (Thursday)", he said. | "It will bring more tension to the people - they should end the story tomorrow (Thursday)", he said. |
| Mr Mursi's campaign has claimed he won the vote, but at a press conference on Wednesday evening an adviser to Mr Shafiq insisted that official results may hand Mr Shafiq victory. | Mr Mursi's campaign has claimed he won the vote, but at a press conference on Wednesday evening an adviser to Mr Shafiq insisted that official results may hand Mr Shafiq victory. |
| Protests continued in Tahrir Square late into the night, with the Brotherhood saying they will mount a sit-in until the results are announced, and until the army gives up the sweeping powers it granted itself in a constitutional amendment last week, reports the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Cairo. | Protests continued in Tahrir Square late into the night, with the Brotherhood saying they will mount a sit-in until the results are announced, and until the army gives up the sweeping powers it granted itself in a constitutional amendment last week, reports the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Cairo. |
| The atmosphere in Tahrir is more street party than protest, our correspondent adds. | The atmosphere in Tahrir is more street party than protest, our correspondent adds. |
| But the mood could change quickly, she adds. | But the mood could change quickly, she adds. |
| Correspondents say Egypt appears to be in political and constitutional limbo. | Correspondents say Egypt appears to be in political and constitutional limbo. |
| 'Undemocratic turn' | 'Undemocratic turn' |
| In preliminary comments on the second round of the presidential election, a group of international election monitors headed by former US President Jimmy Carter voiced concerns about the "political and constitutional context" of the vote. | In preliminary comments on the second round of the presidential election, a group of international election monitors headed by former US President Jimmy Carter voiced concerns about the "political and constitutional context" of the vote. |
| "I am deeply troubled by the undemocratic turn that Egypt's transition has taken," Mr Carter said. | "I am deeply troubled by the undemocratic turn that Egypt's transition has taken," Mr Carter said. |
| On Saturday the Scaf had dissolved Egypt's elected parliament - dominated by the Brotherhood - after a court ruling that last year's legislative polls were unconstitutional. | On Saturday the Scaf had dissolved Egypt's elected parliament - dominated by the Brotherhood - after a court ruling that last year's legislative polls were unconstitutional. |
| Late on Sunday, hours after the polls closed in the presidential vote, the Scaf issued a constitutional declaration giving itself wide-ranging powers and limiting those of the incoming president. | Late on Sunday, hours after the polls closed in the presidential vote, the Scaf issued a constitutional declaration giving itself wide-ranging powers and limiting those of the incoming president. |
| The declaration effectively gave the Scaf legislative powers, control over the budget and over who writes the permanent constitution. | The declaration effectively gave the Scaf legislative powers, control over the budget and over who writes the permanent constitution. |
| The Scaf's moves were widely condemned by activists as amounting to a military coup. | The Scaf's moves were widely condemned by activists as amounting to a military coup. |
| Are you in Egypt? How do you feel about the current situation? Please get in touch using the form below. |