As ballots counting started Thursday in Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential election, it was widely expected that the outcome would be another six years in power for president Hosni Mubarak.
However, candidate Ayman Nour said on Thursday he would call for a revote, which monitors said was marred by fraud and widespread violations. "We will call for ... a re-election," Nour told the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV.
Nour's comments came as hundreds of independent Egyptian monitors reported irregularities during Wednesday's election. In statements obtained on Thursday by AFP, a number of civil society organizations, which monitored the vote listed the different types of abuses that marred the polling. In most cases, monitors blamed mainly supporters of Mubarak.
The turnout was low, indicating the many Egyptians were not convinced by reform claims made by the regime. According to Asharq al Awsat newspaper, turnout in cities reached 20% and in villages 40%.
