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Cairo: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement has urged country's political
forces to participate in a national dialogue ahead of a tough
battle between an Islamist candidate and a former government
official in an upcoming presidential runoff.
Preliminary results of the first round of presidential elections
in Egypt indicate that Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi will
face off against Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister of ousted
president Hosni Mubarak's regime, in a June 16-17 runoff vote.
Muslim Brotherhood in a statement, referring to Shafiq's political
background, said: "We are facing attempts to revive the old regime
in a new form."
According to Brotherhood's officials, Mursi has already invited
other presidential candidates and political groups to a meeting
Saturday to discuss ways "to save the nation and the revolution".
Mursi, 60, an engineer by profession, has secured 25.3 percent of
votes during the first round, while Shafiq, 70, who has close ties
with the Egyptian military and promised to ensure security in the
country if he is elected, has garnered 24.9 percent, according to
the latest statistics released.
The polls, which mark the nation's transition from the present
military to a civilian rule, are the first alternative elections
since 2005 when Mubarak ensured a landslide victory over other
candidates.
Egypt has been run by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF)
since Mubarak's ouster in 2011.
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