Mubarak party wins 2 of 3 special elections in Egypt

In a vote widely viewed as a test of President Hosni Mubarak's leadership, Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) won two of three special elections held yesterday, according to official figures.

Both seats won by the NDP had been held by supporters of the main opposition Socialist Labor Party (SLP). Officials said voting was inconclusive in the third election and the NDP and SLP candidates would compete in a runoff election later.

Opposition politicians saw the elections as the first test of Mubarak's promise to treat the opposition fairly and to avoid the rigging they said characterized previous voting.