Egypt goes to the polls today in the country's first ever contested presidential election, a ballot the government has touted as a major democratic reform even though longtime leader President Hosni Mubarak is almost certain to win.
An Egyptian anti-government protestor shouts slogans during a rally in Cairo today.
Egypt says the decision to allow competitors to run against Mubarak signals a move toward greater democracy in a country that has seen only authoritarian rule for more than a half century. Opponents, however, have dismissed claims of reform as a sham.
Nine candidates are running against Mubarak, but only two are considered significant, Ayman Nour of the al-Ghad Party and Noaman Gomaa of the Wafd.
Hours before voting started, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif took a tough line, warning that demonstrations were banned for election day.
The reformist group Kifaya had called for a rally today in one of Cairo's main squares to protest "corruption and oppression" and the continuation of Mubarak's rule.
"If there are demonstrations, they will be sabotaging the elections," Nazif told reporters. "It's the responsibility of the police and the security forces to secure the voters' rights to cast ballots."
George Ishaq, one of the founders of Kifaya, vowed that the group - whose name means "Enough" - would go ahead with the protest.
"We have taken the right to demonstrate, and we are not waiting for anybody to give us permission," he said. "All I can say is that the whole world will be watching."
Brig. Mahrous Shabayek, the Interior Ministry official in charge of elections, was quoted by Egyptian news media as saying demonstrations on election day were "illegitimate" and would "be faced with firmness."
There have been several instances of police violence against demonstrators this year. During the May referendum that passed constitutional amendments setting up Wednesday's multicandidate presidential election, plainclothes officers and government supporters beat protesters. Kifaya activists also were beaten during a protest in July.
Some 32.5 million Egyptians are registered to cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The election commission said counting could take up to three days and final results would not come until Saturday.
Until now, the 77-year-old Mubarak has been re-elected in referendums in which he was the only candidate and voters' only option was saying "yes" or "no" to his continuing in power.
Mubarak has touted his decision to allow election challengers as a major reform and has promised further democratic steps if re-elected to a fifth 6-year term.