Egyptians voted yesterday on the final day of a divisive presidential run-off between an Islamist and Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, amid moves by the army to consolidate power ahead of the final results.
Former air force chief Ahmed Shafiq, who served as ex-president Mubarak’s prime minister in the last days of the uprising that toppled him, is vying for the top job against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi.
The election comes against a backdrop of legal and political chaos, with the Muslim Brotherhood set on a confrontation path with the ruling military after it ordered the Islamist-led Parliament dissolved on Saturday.
“Shafiq is the right man for this phase of the country,” said Osman, 55, a government employee queuing to vote in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
But standing next to him, Marwan Adel, a teacher, said the iconic square and cradle of last year’s uprising would always be there to keep the pressure on the army.
“We are ready to restart the revolt,” Mr Adel said.
Small queues formed during the day outside polling stations across the country, which were protected by police and army units. Voting was later extended for two hours, until 8 p.m. GMT. On the first day of voting on Saturday, polling was extended by an hour. Official results are expected on June 21.
The military’s decision to dissolve the legislature throws Egypt’s already tumultuous transition after Mr Mubarak’s ouster last year into further disarray, with the new president expected to take office without a Parliament or constitution.
The move followed a ruling by Egypt’s top court that the Islamist-led Parliament is invalid.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is to maintain legislative powers and control of the state budget in the absence of a parliament by means of an amendment to article 56 of the constitutional declaration, military sources told AFP.