President Hosni Mubarak was officially declared the victor of Egypt’s first contested presidential elections tonight, but the vote was marred by a lower than expected turnout of 23%.

Officials are counting votes today after Egypt’s first contested presidential election, a landmark ballot seen as a test of the government’s commitment to reform and America's push for greater democracy across the Middle East.

EGYPTIANS go to the polls tomorrow in a ballot which could mark the beginning of political change in the North African state.