Ashraf Sadek
Mail staff
The final results of the first phase of Egypt's legislative elections, held under the full judiciary supervision in eight provinces, showed that the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) won 26 seats, Justice Minister Mahmoud Abul Leil announced last night.
Independents won five parliamentary seats, Abul Leil told an international press conference that was held in Cairo.
Number of registered voters was 10,752,285 covering 82 constituencies in the provinces of Cairo, Giza, Menufiya, Assuit, Minya, Beni Sueif, the New Valley, and Mersa Mattrouh.
The number of persons, who actually voted was 2,678,699, whereas the number of valid votes stood at 2,575,512, he said.
Run-offs will be held on Tuesday in 59 constituencies, the Minister added.
Meanwhile, the Middle East News Agency said that Giza police dispersed a demonstration in Dokki by Muslim Brotherhood activists, who were protesting the failure of their candidate, Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, to win a parliamentary seat. NDP candidate Amal Osman, former minister of Social Affairs, defeated Abu Ismail.
During the 20-minute protest, more than 2,000 Brotherhood activists denounced the results and chanted anti-government slogans, police said.
In another development, a top US official yesterday said the election day in Egypt was quite calm.
"The election day was quite calm, which is something very good of course," Elizabeth Cheney, the State Department's official in charge of democracy promotion in the Middle East, said.
"We will follow as the rest of the world the next rounds of the parliamentary elections where the focus will be on the Egyptian Government's efforts to broaden the democratic process towards a more open and democratic society," she told the Egyptian television monitored by the Middle East News Agency (MENA).
Cheney noted that the Egyptian Government has the chance now to show the world that these efforts are its intentions.
"Everybody will follow such efforts to make sure that the Egyptian elections will be transparent, that people will have the chance to vote freely and express their opinions and that candidates are capable to communicate with voters through mass media," she added.
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