Egypt presidential polls set for end of May 2012

Cairo, Mar.1 (ANI): Egypt's first presidential election since last year's ouster of Hosni Mubarak's regime will be held on May 23 and 24.

The Los Angeles Times quoted the head of the election commission, Farouk Sultan, as saying that candidates must submit applications between March 10 and April 8.

He said the presidential campaigning period would begin on April 30 and end two days before election day.

If necessary, a run-off will be held in June, he added.

Sultan said candidates must collect at least 30,000 signatures of citizens from 15 Egyptian governorates.

The commission also set a maximum of 10 million Egyptian pounds as campaigning expenses for each candidate.

Sultan stressed that no international observers will be allowed to monitor the poll. (ANI)