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Egypt's historic presidential poll ends smoothly
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-08 14:06

After months of preparations and nearly three weeks of vigorous campaigns, Egypt's first direct multi-candidate presidential election ended smoothly late Wednesday.

More than 9,000 polling stations opened to voters at 8 a. m. (0500 GMT) and closed at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT).

Incumbent President Hosni Mubarak, who proposed in February a multi-candidate system, has long touted the poll as a "historic" step for the most populous Arab country to move toward full democracy.

In the past, the president was not elected directly by the people. Instead, the People's Assembly chose a sole candidate who would be later put to a referendum for sanction.

Supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sing and dance in a Cairo street September 7, 2005. Polling stations opened for Egypt's first presidential elections, with President Hosni Mubarak expected to win a fifth six-year term as the leader of the Arab world's most populous nation.
Supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sing and dance in a Cairo street September 7, 2005. Polling stations opened for Egypt's first presidential elections, with President Hosni Mubarak expected to win a fifth six-year term as the leader of the Arab world's most populous nation. [Reuters]
Besides Mubarak, a long-time heavyweight in the Middle East, nine other opposition candidates joined the race.

During the campaigns which ended on September 4, the media, mostly controlled by the government, were asked to take an impartial position when covering activities of the 10 candidates.
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