Egyptians are concluding their staggered poll on Tuesday, the first since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak following a popular uprising last year.

Egyptians are concluding their staggered poll on Tuesday, the first since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak following a popular uprising last year.

The second-round run-offs for the third and final phase of the vote for the 498 seats of the lower house of parliament will end Wednesday.

 
The Islamic parties have dominated the elections in the seats declared so far. The Muslim Brotherhood, the country's best organized political movement, has claimed the lead through its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
It has been closely followed by the Salafi party, Al-Nour.

Under the complex electoral system, voters have been asked to cast three ballots -- two for individual candidates and one for a party list.

The electoral commission has yet to announce when it will publish the final results.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has repeatedly pointed to the election as proof of its intention to hand the reins to a civilian government.

But the poll has exposed a deepening rift among Egyptians. Some see the vote as the first step to democratic rule, while others say the new parliament -- whose function remains unclear -- leaves control in the hands of the military.

The election which kicked off on November 28 has been marred by deadly clashes between armed forces and protesters demanding the immediate ouster of the military council which has come under fire in recent months over its human rights record.