The former army chief said he wanted "freedom" and "social justice", echoing the slogan of the 2011 revolution.

Mr Sisi spoke after election officials announced that he had received 96.9% of the vote and his sole challenger, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi, only 3.1%.

The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last July.

He has since been locked in a battle with Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of what it called "the election of blood".

Liberal and secular activists, including the 6 April youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak, also shunned the poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.
'Historic day'

Some journalists and government officials burst into applause and started dancing after the final results of the election were announced at a news conference in Cairo on Tuesday.

Thousands of Sisi supporters also celebrated in the capital's famous Tahrir Square, cheering, singing songs and setting off fireworks.

Posted by: llsada at 02:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 165 words, total size 1 kb.