Egyptians start voting in final round of election

CAIRO, Egypt (Reuters) -- Egyptians began voting in the run-offs for the third and final stage of a parliamentary election on Tuesday, witnesses said.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) and were to close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Tuesday's polling takes place in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Qaliubiya, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, New Valley and Marsa Matrouh.

Voters will elect 125 legislators in the 444-member parliament where no candidate attracted more than 50 percent of the vote. President Hosni Mubarak appoints 10 more members.

Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) has already taken huge lead in the poll.

Independent observers said the last poll in 1995 was rigged to favour the NDP, which took about 94 percent of seats.

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