Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Broad coalition government promised in Egypt

Updated at 5:45 am on 30 May 2012

The Muslim Brotherhood candidate for president in Egypt says he will include a wide range of political forces in his government if he wins the election.

Mohamed Morsi, 60, made the announcement in a speech aimed at reassuring voters worried about the growing power of Islamists. He promised to form a "broad coalition" government.

The BBC reports he also promised at a news conference to provide representation to women and children.

Mr Morsi, the leader of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party said the presidency would no longer be about one person; it would be an institution.

The final round of the election will be held on 16-17 June. The other candidate is former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq whose campaign headquarters was set on fire on Monday.

Graffiti daubed on a wall said: "No to Shafiq; no to feloul," an Arabic word used to refer to "remnants" of the Mubarak era.

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