Former US prez praises Egypt elections

Carter has dismissed concerns about the success of Islamist parties in Egypt\\\’s first elections since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

Carter\\\’s Atlanta-based Carter Center has sent 40 observers to monitor Egypt\\\’s staggered parliamentary elections since voting started in late November, the freest and fairest in decades.

Carter said his organization was very pleased with the conduct of the elections so far.

"There have been some problems in general, but the will of the people has been expressed accurately," Carter said.

Islamist parties have taken a solid majority in the parliament. The political party of the Muslim Brotherhood has won between 40 and 50 percent of the vote, and a coalition of ultraconservative Salafi Muslim parties received another 20 percent.

His group plans to release its complete observations on the three stages of the vote on Friday.

Carter said that "his organization would try to foster a peaceful relationship between the SCAF and the elected officials to write a constitution that will give the Egyptian people permanent peace and permanent freedom and permanent democracy."

While the newly elected parliament is supposed to appoint the drafters, generals of the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces, which took control of the country after Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising that erupted on January 25, have indicated they want a significant role in the process, fearing the strength of the Islamists.

Although the military, which oversaw the elections, is viewed favorably by many Egyptians, activists accuse the ruling generals of using Mubarak-era tactics to stifle dissent.

Four people, including an Egyptian presidential candidate, have been summoned for questioning in connection with violent protests calling for an end to military rule in December.

The clashes with the military, outside Cabinet headquarters in downtown Cairo, killed at least 17 protesters.