CAIRO: The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to open nine Egyptian consulates aboard, beside the embassies worldwide, to receive voting envelops from the Egyptians abroad during the second and third phases of the parliamentary elections. The decision was made to the high turnout of Egyptians abroad during the first phase, especially after some Egyptians complained from the delay of envelope arrivals to the Egyptian embassies, said the FM spokesman Amr Rushdi. The Foreign Ministry coordinated with the Supreme Electoral Committee (SEC) to ease all measures for Egyptians abroad to vote for the first time after the Egyptian January 25 Revolution. It allowed Egyptians abroad to participate in building their country's future, Rushdi added. These consulates opening will be in Jeddah, Dubai, Los Angeles, Houston, Sydney, Melbourne, Marseille, Milan and Montreal. The consulates will also count the votes under supervision of Egyptian representatives in the Egyptian communities aboard and the results will be sent to Cairo. The voting in the second phase did not yet open for Egyptians abroad and the Foreign Ministry is in contact with the SEC on this matter, according to Rushdi.
