Egypt's President Reportedly Wins Big Victory

9 September 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Egypt's state-owned newspapers today said that according to unofficial preliminary results, President Hosni Mubarak has won around 80 percent of the vote in the country's first presidential election with a choice of candidates.

The reports said that depending on the province, Mubarak won between 69 and 98 percent of the vote in the election on 7 September.

The best-known of Mubarak's nine rivals, Ayman Nour of the liberal Ghad (Tomorrow) party, came in second.

The figures were published today in the top three state-owned newspapers. The newspapers did not report a turnout figure.

Election officials say official results will not be known until tomorrow.

Mubarak has ruled Egypt since 1981, winning office four times through referenda in which he was the only candidate.

(Reuters/AFP)