EGYPT ELECTIONS

Muslim Brotherhood Claims Lead

Though spokesman refuses to give percentages.

The Muslim Brotherhood claims to be leading in exit polls in Egypt’s first truly competitive presidential election. Workers began counting the ballots from the two days of voting on Thursday night, but the Brotherhood claimed on TV that its candidate, Mohamed Morsi, was the leader in exit polls nationwide. The Brotherhood spokesman would not give percentages, but regional television channels have also said that their exit polls show Morsi in the lead, with Ahmed Shafiq and Hamdeen Sabahi competing for second place. A run-off election is scheduled for June 16-17 and will only be held if none of the 13 candidates win over half of the votes in the first election.