Protesters slam Egypt parliament after disputed vote

Protesters rallied in downtown Cairo on Sunday to denounce a newly elected parliament that was boycotted by Egypt's main opposition groups amid accusations of fraud.

Riot police penned in about two hundred demonstrators outside the Supreme Court as the protesters repeatedly chanted that the elections were "null."

"This is not our parliament. Down with the illegitimate parliament," said a placard held by a demonstrator.

 This is a protest against what happened in the election, which proved to be forged 

Protest organizer George Ishak

Protest organizer George Ishak told AFP that dissidents intended to challenge the legitimacy of the new parliament, which the ruling National Democratic Party dominates with 424 out of 508 elected seats.

"This is a protest against what happened in the election, which proved to be forged," said Ishak, one of the leaders of the National Association for Change, a broad coalition of opposition groups and movements.

"We will file complaints locally and nationally against this parliament," he said.

Opposition groups allege that the election, held over two rounds on November 28 and December 5, was spoiled by fraud and intimidation. The government insists the vote was free.

The Muslim Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd party boycotted the second round of the vote.