Two rivals claim victory in Egypt vote, army stays in power
By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
Cairo (dpa) - Egypt's rival presidential candidates both claimed victory on Monday in the first election since Hosny Mubarak was ousted - while the country's military rulers issued a document granting themselves extra powers.
The Muslim Brotherhood announced the victory of its candidate Mohamed Morsi early Monday, prompting hundreds of supporters to gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square to celebrate.
In Gaza City, thousands of supporters of the Islamist movement Hamas were also celebrating Morsi's victory, encouraged by their leaders via the loudspeakers of mosques.
The Brotherhood, Egypt's largest Islamist group, reported on its website that Morsi won 52 per cent of the votes in weekend election, with ballots at 95 per cent of polling stations counted.
"I came to celebrate Morsi's victory, because he will bring freedom and justice to the poor Egyptians," said one woman in Tahrir Square, the focal point of the country's pro-democracy protests in January 2011.
Morsi, an engineering professor, stood against Ahmed Shafiq, a former air force commander who briefly served as the last prime minister of the Mubarak regime.
The head of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, was quick to make his victory speech.
In a televised press conference early Monday, Morsi reiterated his promise to build a "civil, modern Egyptian state" and said he would not seek "revenge" or attempt to settle scores with opponents.
"I'll be a president for all Egyptians - Muslims and Christians," he said.
Hours later, Shafiq's campaign said their candidate had also secured 52 per cent of the vote.
"Our estimations confirm that our candidate won by 51.5-52 per cent, which means that the other candidate is trying to hijack the results," read a statement from Shafiq's campaign.
The official results are expected to be announced on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.
Amid the conflicting claims of victory from both sides, the only ones wielding any real power are the military rulers - the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).
But a council member said Monday the military would hand over power to the newly elected president at the end of June.
"The Egyptian people will witness the army handing over power to the officially elected president ... in a big ceremony by the end of this month (June) that the entire world will witness," state media quoted Major General Mohamed al-Assar as saying.
"Egypt is a modern democratic country that upholds all democratic values," al-Assar said.
Late Sunday, the SCAF issued a constitutional document allowing it to retain legislative powers and control the budget until a new parliament is elected.
The council dissolved the Islamist-led parliament last week following a ruling by the country's highest court, which found the legislature to be unconstitutional.
The new president may declare war, but only after seeking SCAF's approval. He can also call on the military to quell any "unrest" inside the country.
However, unlike under Mubarak's rule, the president will not have any power to change the members of the military council.
"The parliament still has the power to legislate and remains valid," the Freedom and Justice Party said in a statement, protesting against the military council's move.
The Brotherhood also called for a mass protest on Tuesday and vowed to take part in "all popular activities against the constitutional coup and the dissolution of parliament."
The military took control of the country after Mubarak was forced to step down in February 2011.
Secular and leftist Egyptians fear that Morsi will seek to establish a religious state, in which the rights of liberals and minorities will be undermined.
Shafiq's critics, mainly the youth who led the uprising against Mubarak, see him as a remnant of the old regime. They have threatened a "second revolution" if he becomes president.
The opposition April 6 Youth Movement congratulated Morsi on his victory, and promised to monitor his rule.
"The coming period in the Egyptian revolution is more difficult and ferocious," said Ahmed Maher, founder of April 6. "The old regime and the military state continues to govern Egypt, and we must all join hands against the authoritarian rule of the military."
Meanwhile, members of the constituent assembly, formed by the parliament before it was dissolved, held their first meeting Monday.
The amendments issued by the military say that “if anything prevents the constitutional assembly from completing its work, SCAF will appoint a new assembly representative of all sections of society within a week, which will draft a new constitution within three months of its formation."
The new draft will be put to a national referendum within 15 days of its completion, though SCAF retains the right to refer provisions of the draft constitution to the constitutional court prior to the referendum.
