Secular parties pull out of polls in light of fix claims
Tuesday 26 February 2013
Printable
EmailEgypt's secular opposition said today that it would boycott forthcoming parliamentary elections to protest against an alleged gerrymandering voting law.
The poll pull-out by the liberal and leftist National Salvation Front means the election will be a straight fight between President Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and the more hardline salafist Nour Party.
The Islamist-dominated parliament passed an electoral law last month that secular opponents allege divides constituencies in favour of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The boycott may have limited effect as Mr Morsi pressed ahead with a constitutional referendum in December despite opposition.
Earlier today, protesters successfully fought off a police attempt to end their three-month occupation of Tahrir Square.
Police were pelted with firebombs and rocks as they tried to remove metal barriers and allow traffic to re-enter the square.
The central Cairo location was at the centre of demonstrations to oust former leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
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