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Egypt elects new leader to steer country out of crisis Egyptians vote on final day of presidential elections
(about 5 hours later)
Egypt is poised for a second day of polling in the presidential election. Egyptians are going to the polls on the final day of voting in the country's presidential election.
A huge security operation has been mounted by police and the military, amid fear of attacks by militants seeking to disrupt the polls.
Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last year, is standing against left-wing candidate Hamdeen Sabahi.Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last year, is standing against left-wing candidate Hamdeen Sabahi.
Mr Sisi is forecast to win the presidential election - the second in two years - by a comfortable margin.Mr Sisi is forecast to win the presidential election - the second in two years - by a comfortable margin.
Unofficial results are expected hours after polls close on Tuesday. Unofficial results are expected hours after polls close at 20:00 (18:00 GMT).
BBC reporters' log More than 250,000 members of the security forces are on duty at polling stations across the country, according to the interior ministry, amid fear of attacks by militants seeking to disrupt the polls.
Voting on Monday passed off without an major incidents.
Shortly after polls opened on the first day, Mr Sisi cast his vote at a polling station in Heliopolis, Cairo, amid a throng of reporters and spectators.
"The Egyptians are coming out to write their history and chart their future," said the 59-year-old, dressed in a dark suit and tie.
Mr Sisi appeals to Egyptians who crave stability after years of political upheaval and anything else than an easy win for him would be a source of astonishment, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo.
The scale of turnout will be seen as an indication of the strength of endorsement of the winning candidate. On the first day of voting, turnout appeared lower than in previous elections, Reuters news agency reported.
BBC reporters' log: Mon 26 May
"Voters in a queue noticed a young man standing nearby watching them. "Don't you want to vote?" they asked. The man, Mohammed, answered back: "I didn't take part in the revolution and watch my friends die to then vote in an election that is nothing but a show." Ahmed Omar, Suez"Voters in a queue noticed a young man standing nearby watching them. "Don't you want to vote?" they asked. The man, Mohammed, answered back: "I didn't take part in the revolution and watch my friends die to then vote in an election that is nothing but a show." Ahmed Omar, Suez
"There is a sense of excitement among voters. Michel Magdi said he had brought his three-year-old daughter to teach her the importance of determining the future for her country." Ahmed Kilani, Minya, Upper Egypt"There is a sense of excitement among voters. Michel Magdi said he had brought his three-year-old daughter to teach her the importance of determining the future for her country." Ahmed Kilani, Minya, Upper Egypt
"There are notably more women voting than men." Amr Gamil, Helwan"There are notably more women voting than men." Amr Gamil, Helwan
"Security presence is notably heavy, police and army are almost everywhere across the city." Sally Nabil, Alexandria"Security presence is notably heavy, police and army are almost everywhere across the city." Sally Nabil, Alexandria
"In the historic Cairo quarter where Abdul Fattah al-Sisi grew up, posters of the president-in-waiting are draped across the narrow streets. Around noon we found no queues at polling stations in Gamaliyya district, but plenty of ardent Sisi supporters calling out from shop fronts and doorways." Orla Guerin, Gamaliyya, Cairo"In the historic Cairo quarter where Abdul Fattah al-Sisi grew up, posters of the president-in-waiting are draped across the narrow streets. Around noon we found no queues at polling stations in Gamaliyya district, but plenty of ardent Sisi supporters calling out from shop fronts and doorways." Orla Guerin, Gamaliyya, Cairo
"The polling station here in the Institute for Fine Arts is for women only and the soldiers are greeted like The Beatles on their first US visit." Kevin Connolly, Zamalek, Cairo"The polling station here in the Institute for Fine Arts is for women only and the soldiers are greeted like The Beatles on their first US visit." Kevin Connolly, Zamalek, Cairo
"There is a very festive atmosphere in central Cairo - more of a party than a poll. Posters of Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian flags are the accessories of the day. " Shaimaa Khalil, Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo"There is a very festive atmosphere in central Cairo - more of a party than a poll. Posters of Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian flags are the accessories of the day. " Shaimaa Khalil, Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo
Egypt election: BBC reporters at the sceneEgypt election: BBC reporters at the scene
Shortly after polls opened on Monday, Mr Sisi cast his vote at a polling station in Heliopolis, Cairo, amid a throng of reporters and spectators. The Associated Press news agency reported election monitoring groups as saying turnout was moderate, apart from in Islamist-dominated areas where it was low to non-existent.
"The Egyptians are coming out to write their history and chart their future," said the 59-year-old, dressed in a dark suit and tie. "Sisi killed youths and now he is grabbing power. This is the biggest evidence that [the ousting of Mohammed Morsi] was a coup," Mohamed Gamal told AFP news agency in the pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa.
Mr Sisi appeals to Egyptians who crave stability after years of political upheaval and anything else than an easy win for him would be a source of astonishment, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo. Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, banned as a "terrorist group", has called for a boycott of the polls. Authorities have cracked down on the movement since Mr Morsi was removed from power last July following mass opposition protests.
The scale of turnout will be seen as an indication of the strength of endorsement of the winning candidate. More than 1,400 people have been killed and 16,000 detained in the clampdown. Mr Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders are on trial on a raft of charges, including murder.
In Cairo, voters were queuing to cast their ballots almost an hour before polling stations opened, as military helicopters hovered overhead. Some secular activists, including the 6 April youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution, have also shunned the polls in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.
More than 250,000 members of the security forces are on duty at polling stations across the country, according to the interior ministry.
The tight security drums home a familiar message from the military-backed interim authorities - that the dangers of Islamist militants are ever present, our correspondent says.
Militants have killed hundreds of security personnel since the army overthrew the president last July following mass opposition protests.
The militants say they have stepped up attacks in response to the state's subsequent crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, in which more than 1,400 people have been killed and 16,000 detained.
Mr Morsi is currently standing trial on a raft of charges. He strongly denies any wrongdoing.
Islamists and some secular activists are boycotting the polls in protest at the clampdown and repression of dissent.
In his election campaign, Mr Sisi set out plans to develop agriculture, housing, education, impoverished areas and employment.
He is backed by several big businessmen as well as a broad range of political parties from the Islamist right to the moderate left.
Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in presidential elections in 2012, offers an alternative to young voters who favour a civilian candidate over a former military one.
He promises to combat corruption and incompetence while promoting civil rights.
Both candidates say they will not re-legalise the Muslim Brotherhood.