CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood candidate Muhammad Mursi claimed victory yesterday in Egypt’s race for the top job, as a military power grab overshadowed the country’s first post-Mubarak presidential election.
Two generals from the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), however, reiterated that it will transfer power to the new president by June 30 and insisted that he will enjoy full presidential powers.
A confirmed win by Mursi would mark the first time Islamists have taken the presidency of the Arab World’s most populous nation, but military moves that appeared to render the post toothless were slammed by activists as a coup.
The Islamists’ rival Ahmed Shafiq, a former air force chief and ex-prime minister under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, disputed the Brotherhood’s victory announcement, labeling it “bizarre behavior.” State media also reported that initial counts showed Mursi ahead, however.
“After the counting was finished in all of Egypt’s 27 provinces, indications show that Mohammed Mursi has won 51 percent and Ahmed Shafiq won 49 percent,” the state-owned Al-Ahram said on its website.
There were scenes of jubilation at Mursi’s Cairo headquarters, where the candidate thanked Egyptians for their votes in brief remarks after the Brotherhood said he had secured 52 percent of the ballots cast. Mursi pledged to work “hand-in-hand with all Egyptians for a better future, freedom, democracy, development and peace.”
“We are not seeking vengeance or to settle accounts,” he said, adding that he would build a “modern, democratic state” for all Egyptians.
A Shafiq campaign official disputed the Brotherhood victory claim, saying their figures showed its man was ahead. “We reject it completely,” Mahmud Baraka said of the Brotherhood claim.
Mursi supporters, many tearful, screamed with excitement as several hundred people staged a victory rally in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.
But their jubilation was overshadowed by the prospect of a looming showdown between the Brotherhood and the ruling military, which granted itself sweeping powers.
The SCAF has introduced de facto martial law, given itself control of the legislature and state budget and also granted itself veto power on a new constitution to be written by a panel that it will pick.
“The military hands power to the military,” read the headline of the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.
“A president with no powers,” said another independent, Al-Shorouk.
Revolutionary youth movements, which had been split over whether to boycott the election or to vote Shafiq out, denounced the declaration as a “coup,” while the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party said it rejected any military bid to retake legislative power.