UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday praised the "generally calm and orderly" Egyptian election and hailed the country’s role in the Arab Spring uprisings, his spokesman said.
Ban "commends the population and authorities of Egypt for the enthusiastic participation in this first stage of the electoral process and for the generally calm and orderly manner in which voting took place," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.
The UN secretary general "congratulates the people of Egypt for their determination to achieve a democratic change in their country and for their contribution to the overall democratic transformation in North Africa and the Middle East."
Ban called Monday’s vote "an important step towards the establishment of civilian rule" in Egypt.
"The Secretary-General reiterates that it is crucial, as part of the democratic transition, for the entire electoral process to continue to be held in a credible and peaceful manner."
