Egypt votes for president amid political chaos

Egyptians were voting yesterday in a run-off presidential election between an Islamist and ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's last premier amid political chaos highlighted by uncertainty over what powers the winner will have.
Some 50 million Egyptians are eligible to cast ballots in the two-day poll, which sees Ahmed Shafiq vying for the top job against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi.
Queues had already formed outside some voting stations before the polls opened at 8:00 am (0600 GMT), with police and army deployed outside, according to AFP reporters.
The race has polarised the nation, dividing those who fear a return to the old regime under Shafiq from others who want to keep religion out of politics and fear the Brotherhood would stifle personal freedoms.
It comes against the backdrop of two controversial court rulings on Thursday, allowing Shafiq's candidacy to proceed despite his role in the old regime, and invalidating Egypt's elected parliament.
Activists said the court rulings were the final phase of a military coup that takes the democratic transition back to square one.
What many see as a lose-lose proposition has given impetus to the boycott movement, which was largely ignored in the first round, with celebrities and high-profile activists calling on Egyptians to abstain or void their ballot.
Others believed boycotting would waste a historic opportunity.
The winner will be the first freely chosen president in Egypt's history and will succeed Mubarak, who was forced from office by a popular revolt last year and turned power over to the military.