Egyptians abroad are to begin voting Friday in their country's first presidential elections since a popular revolt removed former President Hosny Mubarak from power more than a year ago, according to dpa. More than 586,000 Egyptians in 166 countries are registered to vote and have until Thursday to cast their ballots at diplomatic missions in their countries of residence, according the election commission. Saudi Arabia is home to 44.6 per cent of the overall number of Egyptian expats, the commission said. A court in Egypt last year gave Egyptian expatriates the right to vote for the first time ever. Thirteen contenders are running in the polls, which are to start in Egypt on May 23 and last for two days, with a likely run-off in June. The frontrunners include Amr Moussa, a former foreign minister; Abdul-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, a liberal Islamist; and Mohammed Mursi, a senior official in the powerful Muslim Brotherhood.
