Spurred on by a massive turnout of near 70% of eligible voters -- thanks to a threatened fine for non-participation -- the Egyptian people went to the polls on Monday and Tuesday and appear to have elected an Islamist majority parliament. The Guardian: Political Islamists look likely to dominate Egypt's first post-Mubarak parliament, with sweeping victories for religious parties predicted in the first round of elections. With preliminary results trickling through from Cairo, Alexandria and seven other regions, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party seems set to emerge as the biggest winner, with some analysts estimating it will capture about 40% of seats in the new legislature. Al-Nour, a more conservative Salafist party, looks likely to secure second place. Despite some notable individual triumphs, Egypt's liberal and leftist political forces appear to have fallen short compared with their rivals, though the Egyptian Bloc - a largely secular alliance headed by the...(Read Full Post)