Candidates claim victory

Thousands of Egyptians packed into Tahrir Square yesterday to protest the ruling military’s bid to grab new powers, as both presidential candidates claimed victory in the country’s historic vote.

In the hub of the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, protesters chanted against his military successors, with a steady trickle of people joining the demonstration after sunset.

The demonstration comes against a backdrop of uncertainty over the winner of the presidential vote, with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi and his rival former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq both claiming victory.

The Brotherhood said it would participate in yesterday’s protest, called by several groups that participated in Egypt’s 2011 uprising, against measures by the ruling military council to claim sweeping powers.

Just as counting began in the pivotal presidential polls late on Sunday, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued a constitutional declaration claiming legislative power after a court ordered Parliament’s dissolution.

The declaration also gives the council veto power over the wording of a new permanent Constitution and appeared to interfere with the ability of the incoming President to exercise his powers.

“The dissolution of the Parliament is null and void, the military council must leave and now legitimacy lies with the people who elected Mursi,” said Abdel Basset Mohieddine, a Brotherhood support taking part in the protest.

Official results in the presidential poll, the first since the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, are not expected before tomorrow, but both camps claimed victory for their candidates.

At a news conference yesterday, Mr Mursi’s campaign released what they said were certified figures, which they said showed their candidate taking 52 per cent of the vote. But Shafiq campaign spokesman Ahmed Sarhan told reporters he was “certain that the next President of Egypt is General Shafiq,” saying the former prime minister had secured 51.5 per cent of the vote.

Egyptian state media also reported that counts showed Mursi ahead.

A confirmed win for Mursi would mark the first time the Islamists have taken the presidency of the Arab world’s most populous nation, and there were jubiliant scenes at his headquarters after his campaign projected victory.