Egypt Muslim Brotherhood claims victory in presidential vote
EGYPT: Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood claimed a victory for its
candidate Mohammed Mursi on Monday in the country’s first presidential
vote since its uprising, but his rival Ahmed Shafiq disputed the
announcement.
“The campaign of Dr Mohammed Mursi announced... his victory as
president of the Arab Republic of Egypt according to the results
reported by its representatives and counting records from all polling
stations,” the organisation said in a statement, adding Mursi had won 52
percent of the vote.
“It’s a moment that all the Egyptian people have waited for,” said
Mursi’s campaign head Ahmed Abdelati at an earlier press conference in
which he confirmed the projected win. But a Shafiq camxaign official
said their figures showed Shafiq, who served as prime minister to
deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak, leading in the count. “We reject it
completely,” Mahmud Barakeh, said of the Brotherhood’s claim. “We are
astonished by this bizarre behaviour which amounts to a hijacking of the
election results.” There were scenes of jubilation at Mursi’s
headquarters, where the candidate himself thanked Egyptians for their
votes in brief remarks.
He pledged to work to “hand-in-hand with all Egyptians for a better
future, freedom, democracy, development and peace.” “We are not seeking
vengeance or to settle accounts,” he said, adding that he would build a
“modern, democratic state” for all Egypt’s citizens, Muslims and
Christians.
Supporters screamed with excitement, some wiping tears from their
eyes. Several hundred held a victory rally in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir
Square after the announcement.
The Brotherhood mobilised their formidable network of supporters to
receive tallies from polling stations across the country and deliver
early unofficial results, but final official figures are not expected
until June 21.
AFP |