Elections monitors and eyewitnesses today report increased security at run-off polling stations throughout Egypt. “The security apparatus wants to avoid any elections-related murders today,” said an election monitor. Media reports said about nine people have been killed in various incidents during and following last Sunday's vote. Egyptians protested over alleged fraud after elections results were released last week. “The police are more able to mobilize its forces now that the polling stations are fewer than in the first round,” said the monitor, adding that the opposition's boycott will discourage violence because security forces will not need to ban voters from casting ballots. The run-off parliamentary elections kicked off today in 166 districts throughout Egypt. The Wafd Party and the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition movement, declared their withdrawals this week from Sunday's race. In the Nile delta city of Tanta, where two prominent NDP candidates are competing against each other, polling stations were quiet as of midday. In the southern city of Naga Hammadi, where Christians comprised nearly 40 percent of the city, no violent elections-related incidents were reported.
