CAIRO — Egypt’s presidential vote appeared largely fair and competitive, but moves by the ruling military, including the retaking of legislative power, throw doubt on the process, US observers said yesterday.
Muslim Brotherhood declared it did not want a confrontation with the ruling generals but said the army did not have the right to curb presidential powers after the vote the group says its candidate won.
The campaign of Ahmed Shafik, who was in the run-off against the Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsy, has also claimed victory in the race. Official results from the weekend vote are not expected to be announced until tomorrow.
In a statement, the Carter Centre run by former US president Jimmy Carter said “most aspects of the June 16-17 voting and counting process were free from major and systematic flaws that unfairly advantage either candidate.”
But the observers “expressed grave concern about the broader political and constitutional context, which calls into question the meaning and purpose of the elections.”
