The World : Egypt Rounds Up Militants

Security forces detained Muslim militants as Egyptians voted in a national election seen as a test of the militants’ strength. Interior Minister Zaki Badr denounced the militants as Iranian-backed saboteurs and confirmed press reports that security forces had rounded up Islamic fundamentalists. The opposition newspaper Wafd said hundreds were detained ahead of the voting for the Shura Council, a consultative body that recommends laws to Parliament. Security sources reported scattered incidents of violence but said voting was mostly peaceful. The ruling National Democratic Party seemed certain to win a majority despite attempts by the militant Muslim Brotherhood to woo voters weary of Egypt’s economic troubles.