Egypt’s first round of elections for the presidency has concluded with the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi and ex-Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik emerging as the highest polling candidates.

Official results are yet to be published, but exit polls and self-reporting by candidates suggest that the two candidates have secured the greatest number of votes and will face off in the second round of elections on 16-17 June. Voters will face a choice between an Islamist candidate and a figure from the regime of deposed President Hosni Mubarak. The result has been hailed as a failure for the revolution, according to some liberals.

Having already secured majorities in both houses of parliament, the success of Mursi in the presidential race would consolidate the power of Islamists in Egypt’s politics.

Turnout has been estimated at 40 per cent of the total population of Egypt.