Cairo, May 24 (RHC)-- Voters in Egypt headed to the polls on Thursday for the second and last day of the North African country's presidential elections.  The voting process is being monitored by 10,000 observers from 49 national non-governmental organizations and international monitors.

More than 50 million people are registered as residents to participate in the first election of a head of state since the resignation of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 -- forced out by a popular revolt.

According to Prensa Latina news agency, a high turnout was reported in Cairo and other Egyptian cities, but voter participation was lower than that of the parliamentary elections in November and December last year. 

Some observers said that the heat may have contributed to the slow turnout on Wednesday -- with temperatures over 35 degrees Centigrade -- while other voters may have preferred to cast their ballots on Thursday, taking advantage of a government holiday.

Among the leading candidates are the former Egyptian foreign minister and former general secretary of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafik.  Angry protesters took aim at the former prime minister, throwing shoes and trash at Shafik as he left his polling station on Wednesday. 

It is assumed that none of the candidates will get 50 percent or more of the votes, and there will be a runoff election on June 16th and 17th.

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