In final leg of vote, Egypt's Islamists eye majority | Reuters - 0 views
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The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood looks set for a dominant role in Egypt's first free parliament in decades and is promising rivals a role in writing a new constitution as military generals face growing pressure to hand power to civilians
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the Brotherhood has surfed a wave of hostility to long-time foe Mubarak. For millions of poor Egyptians, its record of charitable work in areas ignored by his government suggests it would care for their needs if it won power.
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Its Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leads after two of the three rounds of voting and the rise of Islamist parties in the poll has prompted Western concern for the future of Egypt's close ties to Washington and peace with Israel.
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Raids last week on non-governmental organisations by police in a judicial probe into foreign funding for political parties have incensed rights activists and drawn a rebuke from Egypt's long-time ally the United States.
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The more hardline Islamist al-Nour Party has come second in the voting so far but some analysts believe the Brotherhood may seek to build a coalition with liberal groups. That could ease concerns at home and in the West about the rise of the Islamists in a country whose economy is propped up by tourism.
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"The party's winning of the majority in the new parliament does not mean going it alone in writing the constitution without consideration for the rights of other Egyptians, or ignoring the political forces which did not get a majority or failed in the parliamentary elections," said FJP head Mohamed Mursi.
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With so much to gain from its return to mainstream politics, the Brotherhood has insisted that the elections proceed as planned and has shunned recent street protests against the army.