CARIO, Egypt, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in power for 24 years, has won an overwhelming victory in the nation's first multi-candidate presidential election.
Egyptian election officials confirmed Friday Mubarak won 88.6 percent of votes for his fifth consecutive six-year term as president, the BBC reported.
Mubarak, previously elected in single-candidate referendums, was challenged by nine other candidates. Voter turnout was low, with just 23 percent of 32 million eligible voters participating in the election.
Mubarak's closest challenger, Ayman Nour, came second with a reported 7.5 percent of the vote. However, a campaign spokesman said he got more like 20 percent. His campaign said Nour's supporters were prevented from entering polling stations to vote.
Opposition groups monitoring the election have said election abuses occurred.
