Egyptians vote for upper house of parliament

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Egyptians vote for upper house of parliament

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Shura Council is composed of 270 members. Only two-thirds are elected while the rest are appointed.

29 January,2012 02:28 pm

Egyptians have gone to the polls to cast their ballots for the upper house of parliament, a largely consultative body with limited powers.Turnout was light early Sunday in Cairo, one of 13 provinces where the first stage of elections for the Shura Council are taking place. A second stage will take place on Feb. 14-15.The Shura Council is composed of 270 members. Only two-thirds are elected while the rest are appointed.Islamists dominated elections for the Peoples Assembly, the more powerful of the two houses of parliament, in voting that ran from Nov. 28 through January.Turnout was heavy in these elections, which were the first since the Jan. 25-Feb. 11 2012 uprising which ousted Hosni Mubarak.