Hamas: Egyptian elections define future of Palestinian

The prime minister of Palestinian government in Gaza said on Thursday that Egyptian presidential election results would affect the course and future of the Palestinian dispute. Ismail Haniyeh said that Egyptian election results would boost the role and place of the Muslim people in the world. Haniyeh's remarks came after Egyptian people started on Wednesday to cast votes to elect their new president. The first round of the president elections held in Egypt after 30 years of Hosni Mubarak regime ended, began at 8 a.m. local time and ended at 7 p.m. However, ballot boxes have been opened again on Thursday as electors continue casting votes. Around 52 million Egyptian voters cast their votes in landmark presidential election. Former president Hosni Mubarak, whose trial is under way, and his son Gamal can also vote in the election. Hosni Mubarak had to transfer his responsibilities to the army at the end of a revolt that began in January 2011 and resigned. However, according to unofficial results votes cast last week at consulates and embassies by Egyptians living abroad, Muslim Brotherhood's candidate Mohamed Mursi came the first, Fatouh the second and Hamdin Sabbahi the third. One has to gain 50 percent of votes in the first round to become the new president of Egypt. If none of candidates reaches this threshold in the first round, the two candidates who win the highest votes in the first round will join the second round. The Supreme Military Council had earlier said that it would hand over the administration to civilians on July 1.