An Egyptian died Monday during a clash between supporters of two rival candidates in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya. Oustide a polling station in Bahr al-Baqar village, the race between Barakat al-Tahawy, a ruling National Democratic Party member, and his independent counterpart turned deadly, resulting in the death of Ahmed Abdel Salam Ghanim, a supporter of the independent candidate.
Monday's vote for Egypt's upper chamber of parliament, pitting the president's ruling party against the country's powerful Islamic opposition movement, which is participating in Shura Council elections for the first time.
The Muslim Brotherhood's decision to field 19 candidates in Monday's elections comes amid a large scale government crackdown on the movement.
Previous Shura Council elections have witnessed low voter turnout.
Only 176 members of the Shura Council are directly elected for six-year terms, while the president appoints the remaining 88. Elections and appointments are executed on a rotating basis, with one half of the council renewed every three years.
In Monday's elections, 566 candidates are competing for 77 seats in 24 provinces, 109 from the ruling National Democratic Party, 19 from the Brotherhood and the remainder from smaller opposition groups or running as independents. Two principal opposition parties, al-Wafd and Nasserite, are boycotting the elections.
Egyptian newspapers reported Monday that 11 seats were uncontested and went to candidates from the NDP.
