Egyptians are casting their ballots on Sunday in the first stage of elections for the upper house of parliament (Shura Council).

Egyptians are casting their ballots on Sunday in the first stage of elections for the upper house of parliament (Shura Council).

Voting for the Shura Council will be held over two stages; the first of which began on Sunday, It follows a lower house election that was Egypt's most democratic since military officers overthrew the king in 1952.

The vote is the first since the ousted of former President Hosni Mubarak following a popular uprising.

Under an interim constitution, parliament is responsible for picking the 100-strong assembly that will write a new constitution to replace the one that helped keep Mubarak in power for three decades.

Elections for the Shura Council have traditionally been less intense than those for the lower house due to the breadth of constituencies, which makes it harder for voters to know their candidates.

The Shura chamber's powers are limited and it cannot block legislation in the lower house. However, its members must be consulted before lower house MPs pass any bill.

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SUCCESS

Freedom and Justice Party, Political arm of Muslim Brotherhood, won 47 per cent of the seats in the lower house. The group is seeking to repeat the success of the lower house vote.

"The Shura Council elections are as important as the People's Assembly (lower house) elections," said Hussein Ibrahim, a member of Freedom and Justice Party and head of its parliamentary bloc.

"Members of both chambers will choose the committee that will draft the constitution, the milestone of Egypt's democratic transition," he said.