“The people's voice thwarts attempts to undermine the democratic festivities,” reads the headline for state-run Al-Ahram. While state-run newspapers highlight the democratic features of the elections, the relatively peaceful process of polling, and the disturbances caused by Muslim Brotherhood (MB) supporters, privately-owned, independent, and opposition newspapers continue to document acts of violence and electoral violations. “The funeral of democracy on a bloody day,” reads the front-page headline in privately-owned Al-Dostour. Al-Wafd, published by the liberal Wafd Party, headlines, “Thuggery won and the prestige of the state dropped.” Al-Ahram reports how several prominent state officials participated with Egyptian citizens in the democratic activities of the day. Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Fathi Sorour is quoted as saying that the upcoming parliament will be a “real” representation of the people's will. Head of the High Elections Commission Abdul Aziz Omar announced that polling stations witnessed a sizable voter turnout, while the commission's official spokesperson Sameh al-Kashef announced that there were no “grave” violations, reports Al-Akhbar. Al-Ahram reports that the National Democratic Party (NDP) submitted a complaint to the commission regarding the use of violence against NDP candidates and supporters in some districts at the hands of MB supporters. Al-Gomhorriya's coverage highlights security forces' successful efforts to control the disturbances “expected” to be caused by the Brotherhood. According to the report, supporters of Brotherhood candidates threw rocks, blocked the international road, set car tires ablaze, and tried to destroy ballot boxes in Beheira, Gharbiya, and some districts in Upper Egypt. In addition, the coverage continues, supporters of the Brotherhood and independent candidates attacked polling stations in Fayoum, which forced the High Elections Commission to cancel the vote in twelve polling stations following disruptive activities. Notably, Al-Shorouk reports that the NDP claimed that representatives of its candidates were attacked in several unannounced districts. The NDP has also complained of the “stubbornness” of security forces in dealing with its candidates' representatives, and accused security forces of kicking its candidates' representatives out a polling station in Fayoum, while allowing representatives of MB candidates access to the same polling station. Privately-owned Al-Dostour reports that Suez Governorate witnessed violent confrontations on Sunday. According to the report, thugs hired by NDP supporters attacked representatives of opposition and independent candidates using “white weapons” and wooden sticks, and threatened to douse them with burning water. State security forces arrested seven representatives, leading residents and other supporters to force their way into the state security building, breaking the gate and setting NDP campaign materials on fire next to the building. More than 5000 citizens protested, chanting against the NDP and the governor of Suez, amid a strong security presence. Al-Dostour reports that most governorates witnessed acts of violence and fights between candidate supporters, including fights between supporters of various NDP candidates. In Menoufiya, five police officers were injured after being attacked by angry residents in the village of Shubrabas in Shibin al-Kom. Security forces had filled out ballots in favor of the NDP candidate. In Idfu, Aswan, five citizens were injured in a fight with wooden sticks between supporters of two NDP candidates competing over the professionals' seat. In Qena, state security forces arrested two citizens after they allegedly threw two Molotov cocktails at the women's polling station in the Azhari religious institute in Qena, according to Al-Dostour. In the district of Hamul and Burulus, Hamdin Sabahi announced his withdrawal from the race following the use of violence against residents in the district and the participation of police officers in filling out ballots in favor of Sabahi's opponent, reports Al-Dostour. In addition, there are reports that Sabahi's supporters set six ballot boxes on fire after security forces prevented them from entering the stations, according to Al-Shorouk. According to the Ministry of Interior, Sabahi's supporters forcibly entered polling stations on the basis that there were electoral violations, reports Al-Akhbar. In the district of Naboura in Daqahliya Governorate, Al-Wafd reports that thugs hired by NDP supporters attacked supporters of Wafd President and parliamentary candidate Fouad Badrawi. Al-Shorouk reports that the executive in charge of the polling station in the Sahel district allowed reporter Asmaa Badawi to cast her vote without looking at her voter registration card or her national identification card, after Badrawi assured the official that he was going to vote for NDP candidates. Finally, Brotherhood sources said security forces arrested dozens of Brotherhood representatives and supporters, mostly in Port-Said, according to Al-Shorouk. Brotherhood candidate Akram Al-Shaer was also arrested and released an hour later, Al-Shorouk reports. Egypt's papers: Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run Rose el-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party Youm7: Weekly, privately owned Sawt el-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
