Hosni Mubarak

Egypt's state-run media have predicted an overwhelming victory for incumbent President Hosni Mubarak, based on preliminary election results.

Newspapers Friday proclaimed a fifth term for Mr. Mubarak, reporting he won more than 80 percent of the votes in the country's 26 governorates.

Voter turnout was low, by some estimates only around 30 percent of the 32 million registered voters, but state media downplayed its significance with editorials praising Mr. Mubarak.

The 77-year-old leader faced nine challengers, including Ayman Nour of the liberal Tomorrow (Ghad) Party, who appears to have come in a very distant second, ahead of Noaman Gomaa of the Wafd Party.

Independent monitors and Western news agencies reported multiple problems with Wednesday's election, including vote-buying and intimidation. But the election commission rejected a petition from Mr. Nour demanding a revote.

Final results are expected by Saturday.