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"I can die in a matter of months, so I came for my children, sothey can live," a tearful Medhat Ibrahim, 58, who suffers fromcancer, said as he waited to vote in a poor district south ofCairo. "We want to live better, like human beings." Thirteen candidates, who include Islamists, liberals and Mubarakregime figures, are contesting the election. No outright winner isexpected to emerge from the two-day vote starting Wednesday. So, arunoff between the two top finishers will be held June 16-17. Thewinner will be announced on June 21. "It's a miracle," said Selwa Abdel-Malik, a 60-year-old Christianfrom the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria as she was about tovote. "And it's a beautiful feeling too." For most of his 29-year rule, Mubarak like his predecessors ran unopposed in yes-or-no referendums. Rampant fraud guaranteedruling party victories in parliamentary elections. Even when, in2005, Mubarak let challengers oppose him in elections, he ended upnot only trouncing his liberal rival but jailing him. Egypt's next president will be the nation's fifth since themonarchy was toppled following a 1952 coup that ushered in sixdecades of de facto military rule. Like his three predecessors Anwar Sadat , Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Mohammed Naguib Mubarak has a militarybackground. Many of the candidates in the race have called for amendments inEgypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel, which most Egyptianscontinue to view as their nation's number one enemy. Though nonewill likely to dump the pact, a victory by any of the Islamist orleftist candidates could mean strained ties with Israel and astronger backing for the Palestinians in the peace process. The generals who have taken over from Mubarak after an 18-dayuprising forced him to step down 15 months ago have promised tohand over power by July 1, ending a turbulent transitional perioddefined by deadly street clashes, a faltering economy, a dramaticsurge of crime and human rights abuses. The military has said it has no intention to cling on to power, butit is not clear what authority it wants to retain after theelection of a new president. The generals have said they have nopreferred candidate, but they are widely thought to be favoringAhmed Shafiq, a former air force commander and Mubarak's last primeminister who has steadily gained in opinion polls over the pastweek. Other front-runners are Mubarak's foreign minister of 10 years Amr Moussa , Mohammed Morsi of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, a moderate Islamist whose inclusiveplatform has won him the support of some liberals, leftists andminority Christians. The election comes less than two weeks before Mubarak, 84, is dueto be sentenced after he was tried on charges of complicity in thekilling of some 900 protesters during the uprising against hisrule. He also faced corruption charges, along with his two sons,one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa. Whoever wins will face the unenviable task of having to tackle ahost of formidable problems, ranging from economic, a tenuoussecurity and soaring unemployment. The next president will serve afour-year term. "May God help the new president," said Zaki Mohammed, a teacher inhis 40s as he waited to vote in a district close to the GizaPyramids. "There will be 82 million pair of eyes watching him." Another voter in line, tour agent Salah Ali, said: "We need someonewho works more than he talks.". I am an expert from gift-packagingboxes.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Printed Gift Boxes , Gift Packaging Boxes Manufacturer, Printed Gift Boxes,and more.
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