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| Polls open in Egypt amid tensions | Polls open in Egypt amid tensions |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Local elections are taking place in Egypt against a backdrop of violent popular unrest and calls for a boycott by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood. | Local elections are taking place in Egypt against a backdrop of violent popular unrest and calls for a boycott by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood. |
| Some 52,000 local councillors are being selected - but the ruling National Democratic Party is standing unopposed in the great majority of seats. | Some 52,000 local councillors are being selected - but the ruling National Democratic Party is standing unopposed in the great majority of seats. |
| Only 20 candidates affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood are being allowed to stand after thousands were rejected. | Only 20 candidates affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood are being allowed to stand after thousands were rejected. |
| Monday saw more protests and arrests in the city of Mahalla al-Kubra. | Monday saw more protests and arrests in the city of Mahalla al-Kubra. |
| The city was reported to be calm on Tuesday, though protest organisers warned people could come back onto the streets later in the day. | |
| Soaring food prices and low wages have strengthened popular discontent with the government, and dozens of arrests have also been reported outside of Mahalla al-Kubra. | Soaring food prices and low wages have strengthened popular discontent with the government, and dozens of arrests have also been reported outside of Mahalla al-Kubra. |
| Crackdown | Crackdown |
| Correspondents report a trickle of people visiting poll stations to vote, and the BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo says there is not going to be much competition. | |
| [We] appeal to the people not to vote Hussein IbrahimDeputy head of Brotherhood bloc in parliament | [We] appeal to the people not to vote Hussein IbrahimDeputy head of Brotherhood bloc in parliament |
| A wide-ranging crackdown by authorities ahead of the vote left many candidates behind bars or unable to register in Egypt, a staunch ally of the US. | A wide-ranging crackdown by authorities ahead of the vote left many candidates behind bars or unable to register in Egypt, a staunch ally of the US. |
| As well as independent candidates affiliated to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, local news reports also say significant numbers of candidates from the liberal Wafd party and left-leaning Tagammu party have also been rejected. | As well as independent candidates affiliated to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, local news reports also say significant numbers of candidates from the liberal Wafd party and left-leaning Tagammu party have also been rejected. |
| In previous times, municipal elections were rarely marked by controversy, but this year's poll is the first since a constitutional amendment in 2005 which required presidential candidates to secure the backing of local councillors. | In previous times, municipal elections were rarely marked by controversy, but this year's poll is the first since a constitutional amendment in 2005 which required presidential candidates to secure the backing of local councillors. |
| On the eve of the vote the Muslim Brotherhood called for a boycott. | On the eve of the vote the Muslim Brotherhood called for a boycott. |
| Protesters in Mahalla al-Kubra pulled down a billboard of the president | Protesters in Mahalla al-Kubra pulled down a billboard of the president |
| "We have decided to boycott the municipal elections, to withdraw our candidates and to appeal to the people not to vote," the deputy head of the Brotherhood's bloc in parliament, Hussein Ibrahim, told journalists on Monday. | "We have decided to boycott the municipal elections, to withdraw our candidates and to appeal to the people not to vote," the deputy head of the Brotherhood's bloc in parliament, Hussein Ibrahim, told journalists on Monday. |
| He said that the authorities had used "illegal and immoral means" to exclude Brotherhood candidates, including "the arrest of 1,000 members, administrative obstacles to candidates registering and using prisoners as hostages", reported the AFP news agency. | He said that the authorities had used "illegal and immoral means" to exclude Brotherhood candidates, including "the arrest of 1,000 members, administrative obstacles to candidates registering and using prisoners as hostages", reported the AFP news agency. |
| However, our correspondent says turnout is usually very low anyway, so it will be hard to gauge if the Brotherhood's call is being heeded. | However, our correspondent says turnout is usually very low anyway, so it will be hard to gauge if the Brotherhood's call is being heeded. |
| Billboard | Billboard |
| Protests continued in the industrial city of Mahalla al-Kubra on Monday. | |
| There were clashes between police and hundreds of protesters after some protesters tore down a billboard of President Hosni Mubarak. | There were clashes between police and hundreds of protesters after some protesters tore down a billboard of President Hosni Mubarak. |
| At least 25 people were arrested, and 15 protesters and five police officers were hurt, reported Associated Press. | At least 25 people were arrested, and 15 protesters and five police officers were hurt, reported Associated Press. |
| On Sunday thousands of demonstrators torched buildings, looted shops and clashed with police who forcibly prevented a strike going ahead in an important local textile factory. | |
| Amid calls for a general strike thousands have stayed away from work and school, though correspondents say some could be fearful of violence. | |
| The Egyptian government has promised to increase salaries and has extended its food subsidy programme to include an additional 15 million people. | |
| More than a third of Egyptians live below or just above the poverty line of $2 (£1) a day. |