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Egypt's historic presidential poll ends smoothly
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-08 14:06
After months of preparations and nearly three weeks of vigorous campaigns,
Egypt's first direct multi-candidate presidential election ended smoothly late
Wednesday.
More than 9,000 polling stations opened to voters at 8 a. m. (0500 GMT) and
closed at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT).
Incumbent President Hosni Mubarak, who proposed in February a multi-candidate
system, has long touted the poll as a "historic" step for the most populous Arab
country to move toward full democracy.
In the past, the president was not elected directly by the people. Instead,
the People's Assembly chose a sole candidate who would be later put to a
referendum for sanction.
Supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
sing and dance in a Cairo street September 7, 2005. Polling stations
opened for Egypt's first presidential elections, with President Hosni
Mubarak expected to win a fifth six-year term as the leader of the Arab
world's most populous nation. [Reuters] | Besides
Mubarak, a long-time heavyweight in the Middle East, nine other opposition
candidates joined the race.
During the campaigns which ended on September 4, the media, mostly controlled
by the government, were asked to take an impartial position when covering
activities of the 10 candidates.
|
 | | | Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder campaigning | | |  | | | Rescue continues in New Orleans | | |  | | | Egyptian presidential election campaigns conclude | | |
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