(Reuters) - Egyptians swarmed to the ballot box peacefully in their first election since a popular revolt toppled Hosni Mubarak, confounding fears of violence after a week of riots in which 42 people were killed.
Voting continues for a second day on Tuesday, after high turnout and a peaceful atmosphere on Monday in a parliamentary election that could loosen the army's grip on power and sweep long-banned Islamists into the legislature.
The military will retain executive power for now, but the election will resuscitate a parliament that had acted as no more than a rubber stamp for Mubarak, who choked political life during his 30-year tenure.
"Power will be in the hands of the political forces. Real politics will be in the hands of the parliament," said Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian political analyst.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-egypt-election-idUSTRE7AR08V20111129