Egypt: Brotherhood claims lead based on exit polls

The Muslim Brotherhood says its candidate is leading in Egypt’s presidential election, citing the group’s exit polls, as official counting begins after two days of voting.

Poll workers began counting after stations closed at 9 p.m. Thursday. Official results are due Tuesday.

None of the 13 candidates is expected to garner the more than 50 percent needed to win outright. So, a runoff round between the two top vote-getters will be held on June 16-17.

Murad Mohammed Ali, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi, told The Associated Press that the candidate was the leader in exit polls conducted by Brotherhood campaign workers nationwide. He declined to say what percentage Morsi held. The reliability of the exit polls could not be confirmed.

Associated Press