Rights groups have described the registration process for candidates in Egypt's parliamentary elections as chaotic, adding that clashes with security services took place in some areas on Wednesday after the registration process began. They also said that electoral committees have not abided by the conditions for applications, and that there was a weak turnout of Coptic and female candidates, in contrast to a strong presence from former members of the National Democractic Party, which dominated Egypt under President Hosni Mubarak. A report by the Egyptian Association for Advancement through Social Partnership said candidates applying in Beni Suef were mistreated by the electoral committee, which closed applications an hour before the deadline. The report also said officers of the dissolved State Security Investigations Service requested information about the candidates applying in South Sinai before allowing them to submit their applications. In Port Said, most candidates were from the Muslim Brotherhood. Only only six independent female candidates applied, while in Giza, many of the candidates were under the age of 25. The report also said there were police officers dressed in civilian clothes inside the committees. Translated from the Arabic Edition
