Mubarak admits 'flaws' in polls
2005-12-12 21:40
Cairo - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak conceded on Monday that there had been "flaws" in recent parliamentary elections, but hailed the polls as a major step towards democratic reform.
He said: "The legislative elections, despite their flaws, are an important step forward in the march towards political and democratic reform."
He was addressing the ruling National Democratic Party's parliamentary group a day before the new people's assembly's meets after the month-long elections.
He encouraged "not only the NDP, but all political parties to ponder the positive and negative aspects of the elections in order to learn lessons that will improve their future performances".
According to official results, the NDP obtained 311 seats, more than half of them party members who initially ran as independents.
The ruling party had 404 MPs out of the 454 in the outgoing parliament.
The Muslim Brotherhood shocked the country by garnering 88 seats, six times their tally in the outgoing chamber.
The month-long staged elections were marked by widespread voter obstruction and violence that left 13 dead and dozens wounded.