Egypt
• Both candidates have claimed victory in the presidential run-off. Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been celebrating in Tahrir Square after the group said Mohammed Morsi had won 51.8% with more than 99% of the more than 13,000 poll centres counted. But Ahmed Shafiq’s campaign said he was ahead “beyond all doubt”. His media spokesman, Ahmed Sarhan, said Shafiq had between 51.5% and 52% of the vote. Sarhan accused the Brotherhood of trying to create a “fait accompli” and of risking confrontation on the streets “when official results declare Shafiq to be the winner”. Egyptian news websites Ahram Online and al-Masry al-Youm both had Morsi winning. Official final results are not due until Thursday.
• The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) has denied that it is engaging in a power grab after it issued a new constitutional declaration tying the hands of the country’s incoming president and cementing military authority over the post-Mubarak era. At a press conference it accused people of “blowing this out of proportion” and urged people to “stop all the criticisms that we are a state within a state”. Despite awarding itself a range of powers including legislative responsibilities and full control of the armed forces, Scaf insisted that it was subservient to parliament. The military rulers also claimed they were unhappy that the supreme court dissolved parliament – “our biggest achievement” – and said they had no control over the court.
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