Though the Muslim Brotherhood maintained their electoral momentum they had gained in the parliamentary elections, but the West Asian nation's first free presidential election was proving to be a close call, with just few points separating the contenders' vote percentage.
Initially referred to as the 'back-up' candidate or the 'spare tyre' of Egypt's largest party when its first choice, Khairat el-Shater, was disqualified last month, Mursi emerged to take a surprise lead in the first round of counting, according to partial results.
According to the Brotherhood's claim, Mursi has garnered as much as 30 per cent of the total votes polled, while former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq and Left-leaning Hamdeen Sabbahi were locked in a dead heat for the second spot.
Sabbahi, a Socialist, was proving to be a dark horse, jumping from number four spot in the initial hours to compete fiercely for the second run-off spot in the later hours.
The top two vote-getters will be up against each other in the presidential run off on June 16-17. A see-saw battle was on between Shafiq and Sabbahi as voted were being counted.
While official results will be announced only next week, representatives of the candidates are allowed to watch the count enabling them to compile their own tally.
Mursi was widely written off when the election campaign began but the 60-year-old engineer seems to have benefited from the Brotherhood's organisational strength. (MORE)
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