Egyptians have queued patiently at polling stations nationwide to pick their leader for the first time in national history dating to the pharaohs.

Egypt’s justice ministry has agreed to a constitutional amendment to allow millions of Egyptians living abroad to vote in parliamentary elections.

Egypt will hold a parliamentary election in September, its military rulers said on Monday.

Egypt President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling party has swept to a huge win in a parliamentary election that the opposition denounced as rigged.

Rights activists in Egypt are struggling to ensure they will be able to monitor parliamentary elections on Sunday that they expect to be rigged.

Millions of Egyptians are due to vote on Sunday for their next Parliament.