Egypt's open presidential race polarizes nation

[dipsydoodle]

CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's wide-open presidential election, which was in its second day of voting Thursday, is showing how deeply polarized the nation has become, with backers of rival Islamists and former regime figures each vowing they cannot let the other rule.

The impact of their rivalry goes beyond the key question of who gets to rule Egypt for the next four years.

An Islamist president will mean a more religious government, while many fear a figure from Hosni Mubarak's ousted regime occupying the land's highest office would keep Egypt locked in dictatorship and thwart democracy.

The two candidates that inspire the most polarized opinions are Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest political group, and Ahmed Shafiq, a former air force commander and Mubarak's last prime minister, who was booted out of office by street protests several weeks after his former boss.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_ELECTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-05-24-13-49-12

[dipsydoodle]

1. Egypt election: Rivals claim run-off places

The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for Egyptian president, Mohammed Mursi, is likely to face former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in a run-off vote, according to partial election results.

More than 11,000 out of 13,000 polling stations have declared results, in the first election since strongman Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year.

Early counts put Mr Mursi on about 26% and Mr Shafiq at roughly 24%.

Partial results are subject to recounts and final results are due on 29 May.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18201808