Daunting choice for Egyptian voters

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.

A win for either Ahmed Shafik (the last prime minister of ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak) or Mohamed Morsy, a US-educated engineer who would turn Egypt into an Islamic democracy, will go far to define the outcome of the wave of Arab Spring uprisings last year.

“We have to vote because these elections are historic,” said Amr Omar, voting in Cairo, who said he was a revolutionary youth activist. “I will vote for Morsy . . . Even if it means electing the hypocritical Islamists, we must break the vicious cycle of Mubarak’s police state.”

Turnout at polling stations in several areas seemed lower on Saturday than during the first round. Polls re-opened at 8am yesterday (06.00 GMT) and were due to close at 9pm.

With no opinion polls, it was impossible to forecast who will emerge the winner by today — and whoever it is may face anger and accusations of foul play. Both men have wide support but many voters may be staying away, unhappy at a choice of extremes after centrist candidates were knocked out in a first round last month.

A sample of voter comments to Reuters near polling stations suggest many had put aside doubts about Shafik, whose campaign has gained momentum since he entered the race as an outsider.

A court dissolved Egypt’s new parliament late last week, enraging Islamists.

A win for Shafik, 70, who says he has learned the lessons of the revolt and offers security, prosperity and religious tolerance, may prompt claims of Mubarak-style vote-rigging and street protests by the Islamists and some disillusioned youths who made Cairo’s Tahrir Square their battleground last year.