Egypt holds parliament runoffs amid fraud claims

The Brotherhood promotes the creation of a more Islamic society and talks of fighting corruption and heavy bureaucracy.

The small Wafd party won two seats last week, and the decision to boycott Sunday’s balloting led to divisions within the party. The party warned its eight candidates eligible to contest runoffs that they would be expelled if they win seats. At least one refused to back down.

The country’s election commission estimated that turnout for last week’s vote at 35 percent, but rights groups put the figure at no more than 15 percent.

Around midday on Sunday, the election commission described turnout as low but did not give a precise figure.

There are questions over the future of the country’s leadership after the 82-year-old Mr. Mubarak underwent surgery earlier this year to remove his gallbladder.

Mr. Mubarak is believed to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him, but there is widespread public opposition to the “inheritance” of power. Mr. Mubarak still could decide to run again in next year’s election.

The Brotherhood, which is banned but runs candidates as independents, came under a heavy crackdown before the vote, and about 1,400 of its activists were arrested during the campaign.

Maggie Michael in Cairo contributed to this report.

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