World Notes EGYPT

In an exercise of political freedom virtually unknown among their Arab neighbors, 7 million Egyptians went to the polls last week to elect 448 members to the national parliament. More than 3,600 candidates from six political parties vied for seats in the People's Assembly in the country's most serious campaign ever. As expected, President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party maintained its overwhelming majority in the legislature by winning 75% of the vote, thus virtually ensuring Mubarak a second six-year term when the Assembly nominates a President in October. An Islamic fundamentalist alliance of three parties, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, polled 15% and replaced the right-wing New Wafd Party as the main opposition group.