Egyptian Polls Open in First Competitive Presidential Election

Egyptians are voting today in the country's first-ever contested presidential election, with President Hosni Mubarak almost certain to win.

The government has been touting the election as a major democratic reform and a step away from years of authoritarian rule, but some critics have denounced it as a sham. Around 10,000 polls across the country opened at 8am (0600 BST) and will remain open until 10pm.

Mr Mubarak, 77, who has been in power for 24 years, cast his ballot early today in a school close to the presidential palace, accompanied by his wife Suzanne and his son Gamal, who is a rising politician.

Analysts said the only uncertainties were how convincing Mr Mubarak's victory would be and, with evidence of an attitude of cynicism about the poll, whether his reforms would be bolstered by a high turnout.

Around 32.5 million Egyptians, out of a population of roughly 72 million, have registered to vote.

Up until now Mr Mubarak has been re-elected in referendums in which he was the only candidate and voters' only option was saying "yes" or "no" to his continuing in power.

He has promised further democratic steps if re-elected to a fifth six-year term, but his critics have asked why he made so little democratic progress during his four terms in power.

Many of those who assume Mr Mubarak will not dare to seek a sixth term, view today's poll as a warm-up for the first "real" presidential election in 2011, or earlier if he were to die or step down.

Mr Mubarak seems certain to win today despite Egypt's problems, which include mass poverty and unemployment, endemic corruption, a permanent state of emergency and an appalling human rights record.

Nine candidates are running against Mr Mubarak, but only two are considered significant: Noaman Gomaa of the liberal Wafd party and the charismatic Ayman Nour of the al-Ghad party, which broke away from Wafd.

Under the electoral rules, the banned but partially tolerated Muslim Brotherhood, which is easily the most significant political force in Egypt after Mr Mubarak's National Democratic party, is prevented from fielding a candidate.

Speaking while preparing to cast his vote, Mr Nour said he expected "real victory".

"We hope elections will be conducted with transparency, and if this happens it will be a big achievement for Egypt," he said.

The detention earlier this year of Mr Nour, who has endured regular harassment from authorities, prompted public criticism from the US, an ally of Egypt.

The candidates have been able to campaign and run advertisements in the media, although Mr Mubarak's campaign has had the most coverage. Some commentators say that despite problems with continuing censorship and intimidation by authorities, criticism of the government is probably more open now than in any other Arab country.

However, past parliamentary votes have been marred by widespread reports of vote rigging. In the May 25 referendum that passed the constitutional amendments to establish today's election, the official turnout was 54%, but judges who supervised the polling stations denied that figure and said the turnout did not exceed 3%.

At one polling station in Cairo early today, the start of voting was delayed because there were no locks on the ballot boxes. Outside, banners hanging on a gate proclaimed "Yes to Mubarak for the sake of prosperity".

In Tahta, in the southern province of Assuit, pickup trucks with loudspeakers roamed the streets calling people to vote for Mr Mubarak, an apparent violation of the ban on campaigning after Sunday.

There were fears that later today there could be confrontations between demonstrators and security forces, which are often used to quell protests.

The prime minister, Ahmed Nazif, took a tough line, warning that demonstrations were banned for election day: "If there are demonstrations, they will be sabotaging the elections."

The reformist group Kifaya had called for a rally today in one of Cairo's main squares to protest "corruption and oppression", and the continuation of Mr Mubarak's rule. George Ishaq, one of the founders of Kifaya, said: "We have taken the right to demonstrate, and we are not waiting for anybody to give us permission."

Interior ministry officials said demonstrations on election day were "illegitimate" and would "be faced with firmness".

During May's referendum there were reports of plainclothes officers and government supporters beating protesters.

Judges will monitor today's vote but the election commission, made up of judges appointed by Mr Mubarak, rejected an administrative court ruling allowing independent monitors inside polling stations.

Each candidate is allowed to have representatives inside the polling station. Mr Mubarak's party said it would welcome monitoring of the polls outside by private groups and many volunteers were today watching stations.

The election commission said ballot counting could take up to three days and final results would not be known until Saturday.