<p>After three weeks of hectic campaigning that included unprecedented public debates and exchanges, Egypt’s presidential contenders crossed their fingers on Monday for a two-day electoral silence, before a historic election decides the country’s first non-military president.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A total of 13 candidates are in fray to become Hosni Mubarak’s democratic successor but the final race boils down to five names — Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi, former foreign minister and secularist Amr Moussa, former prime minister Ahmad Shafiq, Islamist moderate Abdel Moneim Abul Futouh and Left-leaning nationalist Hamdeen Sabahi.<br /><br />While the first round of voting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, a run off will follow on June 16, 17, if any single candidate fails to win an outright majority.</p>
<p>After three weeks of hectic campaigning that included unprecedented public debates and exchanges, Egypt’s presidential contenders crossed their fingers on Monday for a two-day electoral silence, before a historic election decides the country’s first non-military president.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A total of 13 candidates are in fray to become Hosni Mubarak’s democratic successor but the final race boils down to five names — Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi, former foreign minister and secularist Amr Moussa, former prime minister Ahmad Shafiq, Islamist moderate Abdel Moneim Abul Futouh and Left-leaning nationalist Hamdeen Sabahi.<br /><br />While the first round of voting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, a run off will follow on June 16, 17, if any single candidate fails to win an outright majority.</p>