Egyptians went to the polls on Wednesday morning in the second stage voting for a new parliament, after the first stage concluded with the Islamic parties being the biggest winners.

Egyptians line up outside a polling center in Giza, Egypt, on Dec. 14, 2011. Egyptians went to the polls on Wednesday morning in the second stage voting for a new parliament, after the first stage concluded with the Islamic parties being the biggest winners. (Xinhua/Nasser Nouri)
The polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. (0600GMT) in Giza, Minufiya, Sharqiya, Ismailia, Beni Suef, Suez, Beheira, Sohag and Aswan governorates. Soldiers and police were deployed in the polling stations to ensure security of the process.

This two-day stage has around 18.7 million eligible voters. More than 3,000 party candidates and independents are competing for 180 seats.

The first stage saw a high turnout of 60 percent. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party captured 36.6 percent of the 9.73 million valid votes. It was followed by the ultra- conservative Salafist Nour Party, which garnered 24.4 percent of the votes. Islamic parties are so far the biggest winners.

The 508-seat People's Assembly has 498 seats up for grabs. The remaining 10 will be appointed by the president. Some 50 parties and more than 6,000 independent candidates are contesting the polls. The vote is held over three stages, each with a run-off one week after the first round. Each stage covers nine governorates. The whole process will end on Jan. 10, 2012, and the final results will be announced by Jan. 13. 

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet