Egypt's presidential polls open

2005-09-07 09:56

Cairo - Egypt's polling stations opened on Wednesday at 08:00 as voters started casting their ballots in the country's first contested presidential election. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak cast his ballot on Wednesday in the country's first contested presidential poll, the official Mena news agency reported.

Mubarak, his wife Suzanne and youngest son Gamal cast their ballots in a school in Heliopolis, a large Cairo neighbourhood which houses the presidential palace, at 08:15, shortly after polling stations opened.

Hundreds of supporters of his ruling National Democratic Party cheered him as he walked out of the polling station, Mena said.

Polling stations are due to close at 22:00 but official results may not be announced until several days later.

Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt since 1981, is widely expected to win a fifth term.

Opposition Ghad party leader Ayman Nur has emerged as the most serious challenger but observers predict Wafd chairperson Numan Gumaa could beat him to second spot. The seven other candidates are unknown to even most Egyptians.

- AFP