Sisi Declared Egypt President-elect with 96.9% of Vote, Saudi King Hails 'Historic' Win

Ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won 96.9 percent of votes in Egypt's presidential election, the electoral commission announced Tuesday, almost a year after he overthrew elected Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.

Turnout in last week's election, hastily extended to three days amid fears of low turnout, was 47.45 percent, said commission chief Anwar Rashad al-Asi.

Sisi's rival Hamdeen Sabbahi won just three percent of the vote, excluding spoiled ballots.

Sisi's lopsided victory had been certain, with many lauding the retired field marshal as a hero for ending Morsi's divisive rule in July.

Yet the lower-than-expected turnout -- Sisi himself had called for much more voters to come out -- signaled that a wide segment of the population was apathetic or boycotted the election.

With an economy hammered by years of unrest, Sisi urged Egyptians to "work to return security to this nation," in a television address after the final results were declared.

"The future is a blank page, and it is in our hands to fill with what we want ... bread, freedom, human dignity, social justice," he said.

Sisi's appeal mirrored the slogan of the 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak, as his critics warned the retired field marshal could impose an even more repressive government.

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, crushed by a massive crackdown following his overthrow and detention, had boycotted the vote.

Some journalists and government employees erupted in applause and began dancing as the final results were announced at a press conference Tuesday.

Shortly after the results were announced, Saudi King Abdullah hailed al-Sisi's election as a "historic day," calling for donors a donors conference to help Egypt through its economic troubles.

The king, whose wealthy country is a strong ally of Egypt, said Sisi's sweeping win represents a "historic day and a new stage for Egypt," in a telegram published by SPA state news agency.

"To the brothers and friends of Egypt... I invite all to a donors conference... to help it overcome its economic crisis," he said.