Egypt LiveBlog: A Big Turnout and Some Glitches in the Elections

See also The Real Net Effect: Egypt, Dissent, and the #FreeMona Perfect Storm
Egypt Analysis: Assessing the Elections
Monday's Egypt LiveBlog: The 1st Election Day

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2105 GMT: Another update from Evan Hill:

Rock throwing and fireworks between two sides at 6th october bridge on abdel moneim riyad st

No sign of CSF or army

There are maybe 200-300 involved on this battle on each side.

2049 GMT: The situation in Tahrir Square is again worsening. Tweeps are reporting that thugs have started to clash with activists inside the square where at least two people have so far been stabbed.

Others report of of thugs bringing guns and some even report of shooting on protesters by these thugs. Ambulances have arrved at Tahrir and at least one injured protester has been transported out.

Al Jazeera's Evan Hill reports:

"Main barricade set up south of egyptian museum, six ambulances, some with lights on, doctors ran front with supplies.

"Second group 200 meters up in abdel moneim riyad sq, more ambulances and fireworks.

"There's rocks and glass all over the street and people still coming back with cuts and injuries"

2020 GMT: Clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square continue to intensify. Ahram Online reports: 

Mohamed El-Sa'id, a member of the Revolution Youth Coalition, told state El-Nil TV that hundreds of people are exchanging molotov cocktail bombs in Abdel Moneim Riad square, but he asserted that protesters sitting-in in Tahrir square against the ruling military council (SCAF) are not involved.

"This seems to be a fight between various groups of street vendors and not related to the fight against SCAF," El-Sa'id said.

Many tweeps near or inside Tahrir are tweeting about the situation worsening. The clashes started when groups of unidentified men attack the food stalls and other vendors inside the square and tried to evict them. At least on very young child was seen with blood pouring from head, leaving the scene by one tweep. 

There have been reports of gunfire, but others claim that it's just fireworks. So far, no concrete evidence of any casualties exists. 

2010 GMT: Earlier there were unconfirmed reports which we published that activist Alaa Abd El Fattah has had 12 new charges levied against them. Now that has proven to be false. He is still going to be tried for the charges he was previously going to be tried for according to his lawyer. The list of charges against him include 'demonstrating, inciting to demonstrate, assaulting military personnel, destroying public property, and stealing military weapons'. 

2005 GMT: As violence continues around Tahrir Square, news of election judges being hostage is being reported, but remains unconfirmed. Amr Khalifa tweets: 

Democracy in Egypt=36 electoral voting stations being held hostage by Thugs per CBC TV. Welcome 2 democracy Egypt 2011

CairoWire tweets: 

trivia: each judge has been insured for 1 million EGP in case of death, and 750,000 EGP for total disability.

In the meantime, as the vote continues, it is anything but an orderly process, according to tweeps on the ground. Here's a photo of a polling station losing power while reporting live on Egyptian TV [h/t moftasa].

1950 GMT: Ahram Online has more coverage about the attackers: 

Activists in Tahrir Square told Ahram Online that several men wearing red T-shirts and wielding truncheons have attacked a number of street vendors who sell food and tea to the thousands of protesters who have been holding a sit-in at the Square since November 19.

"The men are wreaking havoc in the square, and they claim to be part of a 'Tahrir public safety brigade,' " Ahmed Kamal, an activist who is currently in the area told Ahram Online.

1940 GMT: Sarah Carr tweets on the clashes from near Tahrir Square: 

Just gone through abdel meneim reyad where there are youths running after each other with sticks and rocks.

Now the group coming from abdel meneim reyad did another attack with fireworks and stones

Stone throwing btwn the two sides at the museum

Now tahrir ppl have forced a retreat of the abd meneim group

The battleground is now underneath the bridge. There is an audience on the bridge.

More fireworks attacks

Re. The fireworks attack in case it aint clear they fire them at adversarys head.

Man holding knife just pushed tahrir ppl mostly spectators up mahmoud bassiouny st but he is apparently on their side (?)

1905 GMT: There are a series of clashes being reported from near Tahrir Square. Jack Shenker of The Guardian tweets from near the square: 

There is mayhem in Abdel Munim Riyad right now, lots of youths with sticks and confused crowds, people fighting in the road

Rocks being thrown across Abdel Munim Riyad, cars snaking through the chaos

One group is on the corner between the museum and statue - seem to be charging at another group below the bridge but too dark to see them

Young kids trying to smash up the paving stones round the statue for rocks to throw, some of them look about ten years old

Molotov cocktail thrown from 6th Oct bridge, explodes at the base of the granite column below

There's guys on top of the bridge hurling glass bottles, rocks and the occasional molotov, youths on the street throwing rocks back

Crowds at corner of Bassyuni and Abdel Munim Riyad scatter under rock-fire, all traffic is now backing up desperately

Thugs on top of bridge have made it down into the square below, people here flee but then regroup. Hearing explosions now

Fighting seems to have moved to stretch of road between Tahrir and AMR, lots of bangs. Broken glass everywhere

One guy on the baltageya side tried to throw molotov towards #Tahrir direction but it exploded at his feet. He seems OK

OK I'm stuck behind the anti #Tahrir lines here, can see #Tahrir crowds advancing towards us in the distance

1835 GMT: Here is the list of the 12 charges against Alaa Abd El Fattah according to Shorouk News. We must mention that none of this is officially confirmed. [h/t perfectionatic]

The head of the prosecutor's office accused Abd El-Fattah with twelve charges, including:

Congregating with five others for the purposes of committing crimes

Attacking uniformed men and violently resisting them

Violence, by carrying knives and fire arms that could cause death

Willful killing for the purposes of executing a terrorist act

Attempting forceful entry of a public building (State Television at Maspero)Attacking civil servants

Attacking persons, resulting in the death of conscript Mohamed Ali Sheeta

Stealing under duress weapons and ammunition belonging to the armed forces

Carrying unlicensed firearms

Purposefully vandalizing public buildings to realise terroristic ends

Carrying "implements' that can be used to attack personUsing such "implements" to disrupt public order.

1800 GMT: The Daily News Egypt reports: 

The Egyptian pound was bid as weak as 6.0036 to the US dollar on Tuesday, its lowest in almost seven years, as the country's deepening funding crisis overshadowed a smooth start to a parliamentary election.

The central bank spent almost $2 billion of its foreign reserves in October, partly to support the currency, traders say. The pound was at its weakest since January 2005.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros tweets: 

Turnout betw 60-70% for registered Egyptian expat voters (foreign ministry)

And as Sandmonkey tweets, counting may have already started in some parts of Egypt without observers from all parties present.  

1800 GMT:Yasmine Ryan of Al Jazeera now confirms that Alaa Abd El Fattah has indeed been charged with premeditated murder and terrorism. The charges come from a civilian court after his case was moved there from a military cout where it was originally supposed to be held.

17055 GMT:It seems that food stalls in Tahrir Square are under attack:

Thugs are attacking #tahrir right now

People armed with large sticks and in orange jackets are breaking all the food stalls #tahrir

I'm watching tea and taamiyya stalls be smashed. #tahrir

I think they are the #tahrir security people who usually man the checkpoints.they've attacked all the food stalls with huge sticks.

Can I clarify it's not thugs, although they are behaving thuggishly, it's the midan security people attacking food sellers #tahrir

There's been high tension btwn food sellers& #tahrir security staff over allegations of drug-dealing.Seems security decided 2clear them out

#tahrir now free of tea. Really really odd to watch. Midan security just cleared vendors out armed with sticks.

1740 GMT:Rawya Rageh tweets from Assiut in Upper Egypt:

Supporter of NDP candidate caught handing out cash to voters, others said 2 b rotating out ballots to fill them outside #Assiut

#BREAKING #Assiut governorate announces turnout in 1st election day reached 60% #Egyelections #Egypt

Police Gen in #Assiut denies reports that woman in niqab cast vote 15 times using others' IDs #Egyelections #Egypt

1550 GMT: Disturbing news just arrived that activist Alaa Abd El Fattah has been charged with terrorism and murder. So far, only Shorouk News is carrying the story. Further updates will be made on this story shortly.

1420 GMT: The Muslim Brotherhood's electoral violations are both being documented by citizen journalists and noticed by rival candidates. Lauren Bohn tweets from Cairo:

Frmr #NDP member rnning as ind. in Assiut raising hell on phone, accusing MBhood of luring in voters w/ tutors for their children #Egypt

When asked if he (former #NDP, running as ind in #Assiut) has given anything to voters: "Only my word." #Egypt #Egyelections

1346 GMT: Lilian Wagdy tweets from Cairo:

FJP is commiting severe violations @ el wehda al arabiya school in abdeen

they guide voters to vote for their candidates and tell people not to vote for christians

also independent mostly felool candidates are using children to distribute flyers for them

@ qady sharaf el din school in abdeen el masryeen al ahrar are distributing flyers in front of the station

caught supporters of mohammad farag an independent candidate handing notes of 50 to voters @ al baheya al borhaneya school

@ fatma el zahraa school in mosky very few voters and high ranking officers there

0715 GMT: Egyptians enter a second day of voting for the lower house of the Parliament, after Monday was marked by very high turnout and logistical problems.

The combination led to crowds waiting hours to cast ballots in the first elections since the fall of the Mubarak regime. While many people were at polling stations before they opened, the same was not always true of ballot papers or officials. 

Still, the general mood and reaction this morning seems to be one of satisfaction and optimism. There were no reports of violence. News of irregularities was largely about parties who continued their campaigns outside the stations, although there some reports of vote buying.