Egyptians demonstrate after flawed elections (AP)

[eppur_se_muova]

CAIRO (AP) — Protesters clashed with police Monday, setting fire to cars, tires and two schools used as polling stations in riots sparked by alleged widespread fraud by the ruling party in Egypt's parliamentary elections. The Muslim Brotherhood acknowledged it had been heavily defeated, blaming vote rigging.

Riots broke out in several Egyptian cities a day after the voting, and in some places police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.

Egypt's opposition says the government of this top U.S. ally was using the election to secure a complete monopoly over parliament and prevent dissent ahead of more significant presidential elections next year. The upcoming vote is clouded in uncertainty, because the man who has ruled Egypt for nearly three decades, 82-year-old President Hosni Mubarak, has had health issues and underwent surgery earlier this year.

A coalition of local and international rights groups Monday reported that the balloting was marred by widespread rigging after the government prevented monitoring. It said opposition candidate representatives and independent monitors who were supposed to be allowed to watch the voting were barred from almost all polling stations around the country, allowing officials to stuff ballot boxes.

Though official results are not due until Tuesday, candidate supporters around the country took to the streets in anger after hearing word their favorites lost.
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