Mohamed Morsy wins Egypt presidential election

A huge cheer went up from Tahrir square where supporters of Mr. Morsi gathered Sunday. The celebration of the crowd marked a difference from nearly a year and a half ago when Egyptian’s packed the square in in the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak’s government.

Egypt’s election commission announced Sunday that Mr. Morsi won nearly 52 percent of the vote, beating former prime minister and Mubarak-era official Ahmed Shafiq. Mr. Morsi will become Egypt’s first freely elected president.

The election commission was supposed to release the results Thursday, but it said it needed more time to investigate fraud allegations against both candidates.

Ahead of Sunday’s announcement, officials deployed extra security forces to Cairo streets and key state institutions. Supporters of both Mr. Morsi and Mr. Shafiq had threatened a backlash should their candidate lose the closely contested election. So far though, there have been no reports of violence.

The office of the president emerges with fewer powers than the candidates had expected when the army promised to hand over power to civilian rule by July 1.

The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces recently carried out a series of moves aimed at solidifying its power, including the court-ordered dissolution of the Islamist-dominated parliament. The council also declared an interim constitution that gives its generals and the courts final say over much domestic and foreign policy, as well as the process to create a new, permanent constitution.
 
Source: Agencies /  www.timesofearth.com