Egyptians vote for new parliament

The Egyptian Interior Ministry said that there had been no major irregularities

Voters in Egypt have taken part in the first round of a parliamentary election seen as a test of the government's commitment to reform.

President Mubarak's National Democratic Party is expected to win another substantial majority. He has promised the vote will be free and fair.

But the leader of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mehdi Akef, accused the NDP of widespread fraud.

However a government spokesman dismissed the allegation.

"There is fraud everywhere, no transparency, no freedom," Mr Akef told reporters after casting his vote on Wednesday.

"The regime is determined to continue on the path of corruption."

Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman Ibrahim Hamad rejected the accusation, saying there had been no major irregularities or disputes.

'Good turnout'

In a news conference broadcast live on Egyptian TV, Mr Hamad said the election had been relatively quiet.

"The reports received by the ministry have only included some disputes or arguments that did not reach the level of brawls, and the police managed to control them immediately."

Mr Hamad added that estimates suggested the turnout for today's poll had been good.

On Wednesday, voters in eight governorates chose between some 1,500 candidates competing for about 180 of the 444 elected seats in the People's Assembly.

Egyptians in the remaining 18 governorates will vote on 20 November and 1 December, with the final outcome of the election not likely to be known until the middle of December.

This year's elections are important because only parties with at least 23 of the 444 elected seats in the People's Assembly will be able to field a candidate in the next presidential election.

No violence

Thousands of polling stations opened at 0800 (0600 GMT) in the participating governorates, including Cairo.

PARTIES FIELDING CANDIDATES National Democratic Party National Front for Change (includes New Wafd, Nasirite, Al-Tajammu, Kifaya) Muslim Brotherhood (as independents) Al-Ghad Party Socialist Liberal Party Social Solidarity Party Misr (Egypt) 2000 Party Green Party Free Social Constitutional Party Democratic Union Party Socialist Arab Egypt Party National Reconciliation Party Al-Jil (Generation) Party Independents Q&A: Election issues Election guide

President Hosni Mubarak cast his vote in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis. He was accompanied by his wife Suzanne and his son Gamal.

The president had earlier called on Egyptians to vote in the election in an address to the nation on Egyptian television. Mr Mubarak's re-election in September was marred by a low turnout.

"The participation of the nation's sons and daughters is key to the success of the next parliamentary elections in the same way it was key to the success of the presidential poll," he said.

BBC correspondent in Cairo Heba Saleh said the atmosphere is very different from the last legislative elections.

There was violence five years ago when the police prevented supporters of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood from voting.

The Islamist group's supporters were not been stopped from entering the polling stations on Wednesday, she said.

Media bias

In spite of the authorities trying to give these elections a clean image by allowing independent monitors and by using transparent ballot boxes, there are still doubts over their fairness.

Egypt has more than 500 papers

The Cairo-based Institute for Human Rights says President Mubarak's ruling NDP party has been allowed to dominate the coverage of the election by the state-owned television, radio and press.

The front pages of most of the publicly-owned newspapers were dedicated to what was described as the achievements of the NDP, the institute said in a report.

They also accused the secular NDP of double standards because of its use of Islamic slogans to promote candidates.

The party has criticised the Muslim Brotherhood for mixing religion and politics in violation of campaign rules.

Campaign violations reported

Campaigning by candidates has been largely peaceful, but there have been reports of widespread violations of election rules.

Local NGOs say candidates from all sides have been guilty of using money and gifts to influence voters.

They also say government officials in many places have shown flagrant bias towards the ruling NDP.

Few people expect this election to seriously challenge the political domination of the ruling party, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Cairo.

But it will test the strength of the opposition, in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, whose candidates run as independents because the authorities will not allow them to form a party.

The vote will also be a test of ongoing political reforms in Egypt.

Many Egyptians regard their parliament as a toothless, rubber-stamp body and it will take more than a gentle opening up of the political process to change that, our correspondent adds.