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EGYPT’S former army chief claimed a landslide victory in the presidential election today.
Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi officially took 96.9 per cent, with 23.78 million votes.
His only rival, left-wing politician Hamdeen Sabahi, picked up just 3 per cent — less than 75,000.
After the announcement, a few hundred people gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and set off fireworks, cheered and sang pro-military songs.
Field Marshal Sissi told Egyptians in a TV address that it was now “time to work” and claimed “our co-operation in work and construction will lead to prosperity and luxury.”
Polling had been extended to three days because of a poor turnout, which still only reached 47.45 per cent.
A large section of the population boycotted the election at the behest of the Muslim Brotherhood — or simply didn’t bother, assuming the result was beyond their power to influence.
