Polls open in second round of divisive Egyptian presidential election

Egyptians began voting on Saturday in a run-off presidential election that offers them a stark choice between a conservative Islamist and a former top military officer who was the last prime minister of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

It is a novelty for ordinary Egyptians, who are choosing their leader for the first time in a history that stretches back to the pharaohs. Polling stations opened to 50 million eligible voters for the first of two days of voting at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT), television reported. They close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

The two-day second round presidential vote will see voters choosing either former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq or Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi.

The voting follows two controversial court rulings Thursday allowing Shafiq’s candidacy to proceed despite his role in the old regime, and invalidating Egypt’s elected parliament.

Panetta to Tantawi

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta late Friday called Egypt’s military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi to emphasize the need to move forward with Egypt’s political transition, the Pentagon said.

Panetta called Tantawi “to discuss current events in Egypt, including the recent Supreme Constitutional Court ruling on the Egyptian parliament,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“Secretary Panetta highlighted the need to move forward expeditiously with Egypt’s political transition, including conducting new legislative elections as soon as possible.

Tantawi in turn “reiterated” the commitment of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces “to hold free and fair presidential elections as scheduled and to transfer power to a democratically elected government by July 1,” the statement read.

The two men “agreed on the importance of the US-Egyptian strategic relationship,” while Panetta underscored “the need to ensure a full and peaceful transition to democracy.”

Panetta also said “he looks forward to working with Egypt’s newly elected government to advance our mutual interests,” the statement read.

Earlier in the day Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a full transfer of power to elected civilians in Egypt.

“There can be no going back on the democratic transition called for by the Egyptian people,” she told reporters in Washington.

The State Department said separately it was “troubled” by the court ruling ordering parliament annulled and was studying its implications.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation in Egypt,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

“If in fact the conclusion is that there need to be new parliamentary elections our hope is that they can happen swiftly and that they reflect the will of the Egyptian people,” Nuland said.