EGYPT: Egyptians go to the polls for run-off presidential vote

Record ID: 327801

  • Title: EGYPT: Egyptians go to the polls for run-off presidential vote
  • Date: 17th June 2012
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 16, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CAIRO SKYLINE VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN POLICE AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION POLICE AT THE GATE OF POLLING STATION PEOPLE WALKING TO POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF EGYPTIANS STANDING IN TAHRIR SQUARE POLICE AND VOTERS STANDING OUTSIDE OF POLLING STATION IN CAIRO'S SHUBRA NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION AS VOTERS QUEUE UP VARIOUS OF WOMEN QUEUING TO VOTE MALE VOTERS QUEUING OLDER MALE VOTERS SEATED OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN VOTER, AHMED OMAR, SAYING: "For me these elections are not between Ahmed Shafik or Mohamed Mursi or between the Muslim Brotherhood and the remnants of the former regime. These elections for me have got to the stage where it's about either having Shafik or not, having a revolution or no revolution. So of course I have come out to vote for Morsy. I don't really want Morsy. I voted for the Brotherhood in the parliamentary elections, and also they called us thugs when we were protesting in Tahrir square. So I don't like the Brotherhood. But right now they are the only alternative to Shafik. If Shafik wins you'll find that Gamal Mubarak [Hosni Mubarak's son] will enter the next elections and it will be as if we didn't do anything." POLICE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DR. MOHAMED FAHMY, SAYING: "We want security and hope. Safety in all its aspects, economically and socially. We want safety for everyone, for the working classes more than privileged classes. So that's what we want. And I say whoever wins the ballot box we should welcome - but he has to work hard." WIDE OF LINE OF VOTERS
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5SUYMMYLTTNM3SL2O4YA7LF4
  • Story Text: Egyptians went to the polls on Saturday (June 16) in the second round of presidential elections following the overthrow of jailed former president Hosni Mubarak 16 months ago.
    As a chaotic political transition continues, Egyptians face a stark choice at the ballot box between a conservative Islamist and a former top military officer who was Mubarak's last prime minister.
    Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood is competing against former minister Ahmed Shafik in a vote that is a novelty for ordinary Egyptians, who are choosing their leader for the first time in a history that stretches back to the pharaohs.
    At a polling station in Cairo, one voter reacted with dismay at an election he said offered few options.
    "For me these elections are not between Ahmed Shafik or Mohamed Morsy or between the Muslim Brotherhood and the remnants of the former regime. These elections for me have got to the stage where it's about either having Shafik or not, having a revolution or no revolution. So of course I have come out to vote for Morsy. I don't really want Mursi . I voted for the Brotherhood in the parliamentary elections, and also they called us thugs when we were protesting in Tahrir square. So I don't like the Brotherhood. But right now they are the only alternative to Shafik. If Shafik wins you'll find that Gamal Mubarak [Hosni Mubarak's son] will enter the next elections and it will be as if we didn't do anything," Ahmed Omar said.
    Polling stations opened to 50 million eligible voters for the first of two days of voting at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT), local television reported. They close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).
    Dr Mohamed Fahmy said he was voting for a better future for his country.
    "We want security and hope. Safety in all its aspects, economically and socially. We want safety for everyone, for the working classes more than privileged classes. So that's what we want. And I say whoever wins the ballot box we should welcome - but he has to work hard," he said while queuing to cast his vote.
    Tension is high in Egypt after the Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the Islamist-led parliament, plunging a troubled transition to democracy into turmoil just two days before the presidential run-off.
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