Egyptians vote to elect upper house

Egyptians have gone to the polls to cast their ballots for the upper house of parliament.

Turnout was light early today in the capital Cairo, one of 13 provinces where the first stage of elections for the Shura Council are taking place. A second stage will take place on February 14-15.

The Shura Council is composed of 270 members. Only two-thirds are elected while the rest are appointed. It is a largely consultative body with limited powers.

Islamists dominated elections for the People's Assembly, the more powerful of the two houses of parliament, in voting that ran from November 28 through to January.

Turnout was heavy in those elections, which were the first since the uprising which ousted Hosni Mubarak.

PA