Cairo buzzing ahead of landmark election

A buzz of excitement swept through the Egyptian capital yesterday, a day before its first presidential election since an uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak and ushered in a tumultuous military-led transition.

The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), in power since Mubarak’s ouster, yesterday repeated its earlier calls for Egyptians to turn out en masse to the polls, while warning against any “violation.”

“The participation of citizens in the presidential election is the best guarantee of the transparency and security of the electoral process,” Mohammed al-Assar, a member of the SCAF, was quoted as saying by state news agency Mena.

“We will not allow any violation or (attempt) to influence the electoral process or the voters,” he added, saying that any person who broke the law would be treated “firmly and decisively.”

Around 50 million eligible voters are being called to choose Mubarak’s successor today and tomorrow with a run-off scheduled for next month should there be no outright winner.

After decades of pre-determined results, for the first time, the outcome of the vote – which pits Islamists against secularists and revolutionaries against old regime members – is wide open.

The main contenders are former foreign minister and Arab League chief Amr Mussa, Ahmed Shafiq, the last premier to serve under President Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi, independent Islamist Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh and Nasserist candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi.