Islamist Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood was declared Egypt’s first democratic president by the state election committee, which said he had defeated former general Ahmed Shafik with 51.7% of last weekend’s run-off vote.

Egypt’s agonised passage from revolution to democracy was in limbo last night as the Muslim Brotherhood claimed victory in a presidential election while the generals who took over from Hosni Mubarak decreed it was they who would keep most power.

Egyptians choosing their president freely for the first time faced a daunting choice between a former general from the old guard and an Islamist who says he is running for God, leaving many voters perplexed and fearful of the future.