Egypt’s military ruler urged citizens on Wednesday to fulfill their “patriotic” responsibility to take part in the presidential poll scheduled for 23 and 24 of this month.
In statements quoted by state-run news agency MENA, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said Egypt would set an example for running fair elections.
Tantawi called upon army personnel to set another example for civilians through dedication to securing the polls and practicing self-restraint.
Tantawi’s call coincides with recent reports of weak voter turnout by Egyptians abroad. Expatriate polling kicked off last Friday and ends Thursday. The number of Egyptians abroad who registered to vote in the election is 586,000.
But in a statement Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said voting had picked up in recent hours, with more than 147,000 votes.
The ministry said the most votes came from Egyptians in Gulf states, with about 60,000 in Saudi Arabia, 31,000 in Kuwait and 24,000 in the United Arab Emirates. The lowest tally came from Israel, where only two Egyptians voted.
Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr urged Egyptians abroad to hurry and cast their ballots before the deadline. He had issued directives to extend working hours at diplomatic missions abroad by 12 hours daily to facilitate the voting process.
Edited translation from MENA
