Egyptian elections prompt all-out coverage from Alhurra

Live continuous coverage of the historic Egyptian presidential elections is being provided on May 23 and 24  by Alhurra Television, with 35 hours of live reporting from the key cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Sharqia, Al-Arish, Dakahlia, Algharbia, Ismailia, Al Minya, Asyut, Aswan and Kafr ElSheikh. Coverage at the polls will run from 7am to 12.30am (Cairo time) during both days of Egypt's first free presidential elections, after Hosni Mubarak fell from power in February 2011 during the country's popular uprising. Fifty million people are eligible to vote in what have been promised "fair" elections by Egypt's military council, which subsequently assumed presidential power. "Through Alhurra and Radio Sawa's team of dedicated journalists throughout Egypt, the networks will be able to provide some of the most extensive coverage of the election," said Brian Conniff, president, Middle East Broadcasting Network, the US government funded organisation which operates Alhurrah. "Reporting on the presidential election is a tremendous opportunity for Alhurra and Radio Sawa to strengthen their position as the place to turn for accurate news and information; especially as Egypt transitions into a new era," he added. In the run up to the elections the Alhurra partnered with the Egyptian channel Al Hayah TV 2 for a series of eight interviews with the candidates, in shows that were broadcast on both networks. Opponents in the election include Islamists, secularists, revolutionaries, and ministers who served during the Mubarak era. During the coverage, the TV channel will explore the relationship between the elected president and the military, the role of religion and the expectations of Egyptians living in rural areas. According to Alhurra, the station reaches an average of just under eight million viewers in Egypt each week.