Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi and former President Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, are the two candidates who will face off in a run-off round in Egypt’s presidential elections.

According to a report by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, Morsi has taken 24.9 percent of the votes, and Shafiq is a close second with 24.5 percent.

Though official election results will not be announced for at least two days, the newspaper’s calculations show that Morsi and Shafiq are likely to be in the run-off on June 16 and 17.

In a surprising turn of events, Egypt’s former foreign minister Amr Moussa, who had been considered a top candidate, did not do well in the polls. Nasserist candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi has surprised many by coming in third, with 4,616,937, or 21.1 percent of the votes, Al- Masry Al-Youm reported.

Earlier on Friday, the Muslim Brotherhood said its candidate had won through to the run-off.

“It is clear that the run-off will be between Mohammed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq,” a Brotherhood official told reporters.

Shafiq said earlier this month that he would be ready to visit Israel, if elected, “provided it gives something to show it has good intentions.”

The Muslim Brotherhood, which also clinched the majority in recent parliamentary elections, has threatened to cancel the peace treaty with Israel by putting the issue up for a referendum and letting Egyptians decide.

Channel 2 News reported on Friday that former Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Abul-Fotouh, who had also been considered a frontrunner, has hinted that he will tell his supporters to vote for Morsi in the second round. According to the report, this may help Morsi clinch the victory.(IsraelNationalNews © 2012 05/25/12)