Brotherood's Mursi awarded Egyptian election

25 Jun 2012, 6:00 am   -   Source: AFP
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Islamist Mohammed Mursi has been declared the winner in Egypt's first free presidential election in history, declaring himself a President for all Egyptians.

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Islamist Mohammed Mursi has been declared the winner in Egypt's first free presidential election in history, closing the tumultuous first phase of a democratic transition and opening a new struggle with the still-dominant military rulers who recently stripped the presidency of most of its powers.

In a speech to the nation, he said he will be 'president for all Egyptians' and thanked the martyrs for his win.
  
In Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the uprising that ousted autocratic president Hosni Mubarak, joyous Mursi supporters wept and kneeled on the ground in prayer as soon as they heard the outcome announced live on television on Sunday.

They danced, set off fireworks and released doves in the air with Morsi's picture attached in celebrations not seen in the square since Mubarak was forced out on February 11 last year.

Many are looking now to see whether Mursi will try to take on the military and wrestle back the powers they took from his office just one week ago.

Thousands vowed to remain in Tahrir Square to demand that the ruling generals reverse their decision.

"I pledge to be a president who serves his people and works for them," Mursi said on his official web page. "I will not betray God in defending your rights and the rights of this nation."

The White House congratulated Morsi and urged him to advance national unity as he forms a new government.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Mursi's victory is a milestone in Egypt's transition to democracy after decades of authoritarian rule under Mubarak. The Obama administration had expressed no public preference in the presidential race.

Left on the sidelines of the political drama are the liberal and secular youth groups that drove the uprising against Mubarak, left to wonder whether Egypt has taken a step towards becoming an Islamist state.

Some grudgingly supported Mursi in the face of Ahmed Shafiq, who was Mubarak's last prime minister, while others boycotted the elections.

Mursi will now have to reassure them that he represents the whole country, not just Islamists, and will face enormous challenges after security and the economy badly deteriorated in the transition period.

Pro-democracy leader Mohammed ElBaradei urged unity after the results were announced.

"It is time we work all as Egyptians as part of a national consensus to build Egypt that is based on freedom and social justice," he wrote on his Twitter account.

Mursi, the 60-year old US-trained engineer, narrowly defeated Shafiq with 51.7 per cent of the vote versus 48.3 per cent, by a margin of only 800,000 votes, the electoral commission said.

Turnout was 51 per cent.

Egypt Elections

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