Both sides claim victory in Egypt election

Hosni Mubarak’s ex-prime minister Ahmed Shafiq is claiming victory in Egypt’s presidential election, countering the Muslim Brotherhood’s claims that its candidate was the winner and setting the stage for a divisive fight for the leadership.

The rival claims carry the potential for a new chapter of unrest at a time when opposition already is growing against a “constitutional declaration” announced by the military on Sunday which robbed the next president of many powers and gave the generals who succeeded Mubarak last year legislative powers as well as control over the process of drafting a constitution.