International > Six Egypt rights groups urge vote against Mubarak

The six groups, mainly among the smaller of Egypt's rights organisations, said they issued the statement because of inadequate guarantees that the September 7 vote would be free.

Many groups have said they do not expect a fair race, particularly complaining about the presidential election committee's decision to bar independent monitors from polling stations. But they have not advised Egyptians how to vote.

An administrative court ruled on Saturday that monitors should be allowed into polling stations. But the election committee, whose pronouncements are final according to election rules, rejected the court's decision.

"The Egyptian rights organisations which signed this statement called on Egyptian citizens to boycott the presidential elections ... because of the absence of real guarantees for free elections," said the statement by the six groups.

It added that voters who decided to cast ballots should choose anyone except Mubarak, who has been in power for 24 years and whose victory appears to be beyond doubt.

"These cosmetic elections will only lead to increasing the dictatorial grip of Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt," said the statement signed by the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and five NGOs.

Some activists were critical of the statement. Ahmed Borai, head of Group for Democratic Development which did not sign, said NGOs should not be advising voters who to choose.

MONITORING

Mubarak proposed in February holding a multi-candidate presidential race amid U.S. calls for reform in the Middle East. Egypt, a regional U.S. ally, says it did not act under pressure.

Several rights groups have trained monitors to supervise the vote. But the election oversight committee has said only judges and representatives of candidates can enter polling stations.

Parliamentary elections in 2000 were marred by violence and reports of harassment. The groups say only full independent monitoring will ensure a free and fair race this time.

The United States has called for Egypt to allow foreign monitors, but the government says it sees no need and has promised a fair race.

Saturday's court ruling to allow monitors into polling stations would have met a key NGO demand. But Egypt's Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that the election committee "decided not to consider the two rulings" issued by the court.

Alongside the ruling on monitoring, the court had also disqualified one of the 10 candidates, Waheed el-Oksory. The committee said the list of candidates would not change, MENA reported.

(Additional reporting by Mohamed Abdellah)

2005-09-04