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Egyptians vote on final day of presidential elections Egypt election: Push for high voter turnout
(about 4 hours later)
Egyptians are going to the polls on the final day of voting in the country's presidential election. Polling in Egypt's presidential election has been extended, in an effort to effort to encourage a high turnout on the final day of voting.
Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last year, is standing against left-wing candidate Hamdeen Sabahi. A public holiday has been declared, and voters have been warned they will be fined if they do not cast a ballot.
Mr Sisi is forecast to win the presidential election - the second in two years - by a comfortable margin. The scale of turnout is seen as key to legitimising the winner. Former military chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is the clear frontrunner.
He is standing against only one other candidate, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi.
Unofficial results are expected hours after polls close at 22:00 (19:00 GMT).Unofficial results are expected hours after polls close at 22:00 (19:00 GMT).
Voting was extended by an hour after authorities declared Tuesday a bank holiday to try to boost turnout. The scale of turnout will be seen as an indication of the strength of endorsement of the winning candidate. It is the second presidential election since the 2011 revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak.
The previous elected President, Islamist Mohammed Morsi, was deposed by Mr Sisi in July 2012 following massive opposition protests.
After polls closed on Monday, authorities announced that voting would be extended for an hour on Tuesday, which was declared a public holiday, to try to boost turnout.
Election officials said they would enforce a fine of over 500 Egyptian pounds ($72) for non-voting.
There has been no announcement from the Higher Election Commission on Monday's turnout, although Reuters news agency said the number of people casting their vote appeared lower than in previous elections.
In 2012, just under 52% of the electorate voted, handing a slim victory to Mohammed Morsi.
The Associated Press news agency reported election monitoring groups as saying turnout was moderate, apart from in Islamist-dominated areas where it was low to non-existent.
"Sisi killed youths and now he is grabbing power. This is the biggest evidence that [the ousting of Mohammed Morsi] was a coup," Mohamed Gamal told AFP news agency in the pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa.
Polling stations visited by AFP in Cairo were deserted on Tuesday morning, the agency reported.
The election is being held amid tight security, with more than 250,000 troops and police deployed across the country, according to the interior ministry, amid fear of attacks by militants seeking to disrupt the polls.The election is being held amid tight security, with more than 250,000 troops and police deployed across the country, according to the interior ministry, amid fear of attacks by militants seeking to disrupt the polls.
Voting on Monday passed off without an major incidents.Voting on Monday passed off without an major incidents.
Shortly after polls opened on the first day, Mr Sisi cast his vote at a polling station in Heliopolis, Cairo, amid a throng of reporters and spectators.Shortly after polls opened on the first day, Mr Sisi cast his vote at a polling station in Heliopolis, Cairo, amid a throng of reporters and spectators.
"The Egyptians are coming out to write their history and chart their future," said the 59-year-old, dressed in a dark suit and tie."The Egyptians are coming out to write their history and chart their future," said the 59-year-old, dressed in a dark suit and tie.
Mr Sisi appeals to Egyptians who crave stability after years of political upheaval, and anything else than an easy win for him would be a source of astonishment, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo. Mr Sisi appeals to Egyptians who crave stability after years of political upheaval, and anything other than an easy win for him would be a source of astonishment, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo.
On Monday, the number of people casting their vote appeared lower than in previous elections, Reuters news agency reported. Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, banned as a "terrorist group", called for a boycott of the polls. More than 1,400 people have been killed and 16,000 detained since authorities cracked down on the movement in July.
The Associated Press news agency reported election monitoring groups as saying turnout was moderate, apart from in Islamist-dominated areas where it was low to non-existent. Mr Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders are on trial on a raft of charges, including murder.
"Sisi killed youths and now he is grabbing power. This is the biggest evidence that [the ousting of Mohammed Morsi] was a coup," Mohamed Gamal told AFP news agency in the pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa.
Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, banned as a "terrorist group", has called for a boycott of the polls. Authorities have cracked down on the movement since Mr Morsi was removed from power last July following mass opposition protests.
More than 1,400 people have been killed and 16,000 detained in the clampdown. Mr Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders are on trial on a raft of charges, including murder.
Some secular activists, including the 6 April youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution, have also shunned the polls in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.Some secular activists, including the 6 April youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution, have also shunned the polls in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.