Unofficial counts are giving Mubarak a vote count perhaps as high as 80%, with liberal opposition candidate Ayman Nour only up to 12%. This is, perhaps, pretty realistic given the circumstances, and for more on that you should read my previous post. I went into great detail on how fraud and irregularities can be committed by the government, and because of all of these things, the opposition is now claiming massive fraud in the elections.

CAIRO (AFX) – Indignant opposition candidates and independent monitors claimed that incumbent Hosni Mubarak’s camp had massively violated electoral law during Egypt’s first contested presidential poll.

The accusations sent a tense backdrop for what was guaranteed to be the beginning of a fifth term for the 77-year-old leader, whom observers had predicted would seek to tamper with the results to ensure sufficient legitimacy.

Forced voting, paid voters, unmanned polling stations, missing indelible ink and the use of public transport to ferry voters to polling stations were only some of the accusations against Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.

As counting continued across the country, results were not expected before late today at the earliest. The country’s judges — tasked with supervising Wednesday’s vote — warned before the polling stations opened that they would not endorse them.

However government officials voiced satisfaction with the polling process.

‘The electoral process … was as good as could have been envisioned,’ said electoral commission secretary general Osama Attawiya.

But opposition activists, who demonstrated yesterday to urge a boycott of an election they deemed unfair, were already planning protests against the poll results for later in the week.

There was no immediate comment from Mubarak’s camp.

Estimates released by the four-term president’s main rival, Ghad party leader Ayman Nur, indicated that turnout stood at between 15-20 pct in rural areas and hovered between 3-5 pct in cities.

A top aide to Nur — who described the vote as a ‘defining moment in Egypt’s history’ — claimed the fiery 40-year-old lawyer should obtain between 30-55 pct of the vote if the election was not rigged.

The Wafd party of Nur’s main rival for second spot, Numan Gumaa, also alleged ‘unacceptable abuses’ during the voting on the part of Mubarak supporters.

Miss Mabrouk is collecting an hour-by-hour report of the many irregularities that occurred. It’s incredibly extensive. A must read. The opposition isn’t just claiming fraud, however, but seeking a complete do over for the entire election. Ayman Nour is leading the charge against Mubarak.

One of the main challengers in Egypt’s first contested presidential election is calling for a re-run of Wednesday’s vote because of alleged irregularities.
Ayman Nour said he would make a complaint to the electoral commission, and take his case to court if required.

Accusations include voter intimidation, multiple voting and the absence of indelible ink from some poll stations.

Election officials have defended the fairness of the vote, which incumbent Hosni Mubarak is expected to win.

The BBC’s Heba Saleh in Cairo says it is highly unlikely that the election will be re-staged.

The most important thing is that Nour is exhausting every legal means of challenging the government, which will prove that the electoral and legal system is rigged to allow Mubarak to win with ease. As I explained before, the electoral commission is stacked with stooges, so there is no way that any of the major complaints will be acknowledged. Perhaps a few token minor ones to feign fairness, but nothing big.

Even with the obvious proof, however, it may not be enough, as Egypt’s voters are incredibly passive and apathetic. A good sign is that everyone is talking about the election now. It’s the big word on the street. What happens within the next few days will be absolutely important to watch, before and after the election results are announced. The Kefaya Movement is planning a rally by the weekend, and it will likely be thousands of people. They staged one of three thousand after the election, and they were not broken up despite threats that it would be.

Because of the general voter apathy, it’s unlikely that massive street protests that swamp Cairo will take place. But the question keeps begging, “Will Egypt be the next Ukraine?” Let’s wait and see.