An Egyptian administrative court on Saturday ruled that independent monitors can watch vote counting in the ongoing parliamentary elections by closed-circuit TV cameras, the official MENA news agency reported.

The ruling would allow human rights groups to closely follow the electoral process, said MENA, adding that the court hoped the measure would lead to more transparent polls.

Egyptian voters returned to the polls Thursday in the first round of voting of the third and final phase of the parliamentary elections.

Only nine of the 136 seats up for grab in the third phase have been decided, with eight won by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and one by the opposition Al Wafd party.

Run-offs in the third phase are due to held next Wednesday as voters are to choose the remaining 127 seats.

With five of the six rounds of voting concluded, the NDP has won altogether 224 seats and the banned but usually tolerated Muslim Brotherhood secured 76 seats.

The elections kicked off on Nov. 9 and are held on a three-stage basis to make sure there are enough judges and Justice Ministry officials to monitor the polling process in each stage.

Source: Xinhua