Sisi Looms Large over Egypt Vote
Local Editor
Egyptians begin voting Sunday for a parliament expected to step firmly in line behind President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has crushed all opposition since ousting his Brotherhood predecessor in 2013.
The much-delayed election - the previous assembly was dissolved in June 2012 - will be in two phases between October 18 and December 2.
Former army chief Sisi won the 2014 presidential election despite having no political party of his own, and insists he has no political allies.
But experts say most of the more than 5,000 candidates overwhelmingly back him.
Many Egyptians tired of political turmoil since the 2011 ouster of toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak support Sisi, who has vowed to restore stability amid a deadly crackdown targeting supporters of Mubarak's successor.
Sisi has urged a large turnout, saying that "active participation of all segments of the society is important for the election", a presidency statement said on Tuesday.
The Brotherhood has now been blacklisted as a "terrorist organization" and its members banned from contesting elections.
Hundreds including Mursi himself have been sentenced to death after mass trials the United Nations denounced as "unprecedented in recent history".
Scores of policemen and soldiers have also been killed in jihadist attacks since the crackdown began.
More than 27 million people across 14 of Egypt's 27 provinces are eligible to vote in the first phase over two days from Sunday.
Egyptians living overseas vote on Saturday.
The second phase in the remaining provinces begins on November 21, with more than 28 million eligible voters.
The 596-member parliament will include 28 presidential appointees, with the rest elected under a complex system of independent candidates and party lists.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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