Charges of fraud, intimidation cloud Egypt's legislative poll

There is little doubt that President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party will steal Sunday's legislative elections in Egypt despite mounting accusations of fraud and intimidation by the opposition. Final results could be released on Monday.

Shona BHATTACHARYYA (video)

AFP - Polls for Egypt's parliamentary election closed on Sunday after a day of voting expected to further strengthen the ruling party at the expense of its Islamist opponents.

Polling stations closed at 7:00 pm local time (1700 GMT) and election workers began moving the ballot boxes to centres where they will begin the night-long count.

First results of the election, which rights group say was marked by irregularities, are due to be announced on Monday.

President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party is tipped to increase its majority in the 518-seat parliament, while representation of the banned Muslim Brotherhood opposition is expected to slide.