Brotherhood's Morsy and Shafiq headed for Egypt's run-off in June

Newscast Media CAIRO, Egypt—The preliminary presidential election round in Egypt resulted in the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsy leading with 25 percent of the vote, and his closest rival Ahmed Shafiq with 23 percent, according to Egypt's Al-Masry Al-Youm news outlet. The run-off will be held June 16 and 17 between both contenders who have distinct differences.

Shafiq, a military man served as deposed leader Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister, while Morsy an Islamist whose conservative message appeals to some has promised to introduce Sharia law if elected president.

According to Al-Masry Al-Youm, a Brotherhood official said that with votes counted from about 12,800 of the roughly 13,100 polling stations, Morsy had 25 percent, Shafiq 23 percent, a rival Islamist Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh 20 percent and leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi 19 percent.

Morsy's success has dismayed non-Islamists, not least Christians who make up about a tenth of the population, unconvinced by promises that freedoms will be safe in a Brotherhood-led Egypt.

"It was for the sake of the Islamic Sharia that men were ... thrown into prison. Their blood and existence rests on our shoulders now," Morsy said during one campaign rally.

"We will work together to realize their dream of implementing sharia," said the Brotherhood contender, who himself spent time in jail under Mubarak, according to Egypt Independent news.

Shafiq has relied on his military background and successes in the Civil Aviation Ministry to sell himself to the public in his presidential campaign. During his ten years heading the ministry, he was one of the few ministers whose performance was praised by both the regime and some opposition figures, journalists and writers. Some voices had called for him to be appointed prime minister or even vice president in the last few years of the Mubarak regime.

Shafiq believes it would be "unacceptable" if an Islamist takes the presidential office.

A victory for the Brotherhood will secure its position as Egypt's dominant political group, which is a stark difference from the former military-dominated era of the past few decades. Add Comments>>

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