CAIRO, Egypt. - After this weekend's presidential elections, Egypt has plunged back into turmoil - with no constitution, both presidential candidates claiming victory, a military refusing to surrender power and the rumored death of ousted president Hosni Mubarak. With thousands gathering at Tahrir Square in protests, the situation is very reminiscent of the 2011 protests which resulted in the coup of president Mubarak.
Wednesday, rumors are afloat about 84-year-old Mubarak's death. Reports from BBC News suggest that he has been moved from prison to a military hospital in Cairo after suffering from a series of strokes. Military officials announced that Mubarak is in critical condition and denied hearsay that he was "clinically dead." Crowds of protesters have gathered outside the hospital, Egyptians "wonder if ...reports of his near death were all a morbid hoax," according to the New York Times, in order to prevent Mubarak from serving his life-time sentence in jail, handed down to him by the Supreme Court earlier this month.
While the hospital is surrounded by some protesters, huge demonstrations continue to gather momentum in the famous Tahrir Square, where Egyptians are expressing anger and frustration over this weekend's elections.
According to unofficial results Monday and Tuesday, news media including the state news organization MENA announced the victory of Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in a 58 to 42 percent win against former Mubarak Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. The celebrations that quickly burgeoned on streets as the news broke out soon died as the military showed signs of refusing to transfer power and disputed the win of Mohamed Morsi.
Before results were announced, the military passed a legislation that gave them constitutional power independent of the government as well as budgetary authority and the power to veto the president's decision of war.
The run-off presidential elections took place on Saturday and Sunday, it was the first democratic presidential election in over 30 years. The official winner is said to be announced Thursday.
