Egypt

Egyptian presidential campaign blackout begins

A ban on presidential campaigning entered into force on Monday with two days to go for Egypt's first election since a popular uprising ousted longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

According to the electoral rules laid down by the Presidential Elections Commission, candidates may no longer appear on television, give media interviews or conduct any public activity that may influence those voting in the 23 to 24 May election.

Candidates have been crisscrossing the country in past weeks in an unprecedented exercise in democracy made possible by the 2011 popular uprising that ousted Mubarak.

The main contenders in the race are former foreign minister and ex-Arab League chief Amr Moussa; Ahmed Shafiq, the last premier to serve under Mubarak; the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsy and independent Islamist Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh.

A run-off is scheduled on 16 to 17 June should there be no outright winner.

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