US attorney general calls for free, fair Egypt vote

By Yasmine Saleh

CAIRO (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday Egypt should be able to conduct fair elections and he called for a full investigation into the death in police custody of an anti-corruption activist.

Egypt, a U.S. ally in the Middle East, is to hold a parliamentary election later this year and presidential vote in 2011. But critics say the electoral system is stacked against opposition candidates and has prevented challenges to President Hosni Mubarak, 82, who has been in power for almost 30 years.

Human rights groups and analysts have cited a range of abuses in past elections including security forces and ruling party backers blocking opposition supporters from casting ballots and inflating results for government candidates.

"One of the things we are concerned (about is) that elections will be held here in a free and open way ... there is certainly a capacity here to do that," Holder said at a meeting with the press at the U.S. embassy in Cairo. "We are hopeful that elections will be held in a free and open manner."

Holder declined comment on the campaign of former U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who has been fighting to get the government to change the constitution to make it easier for independent candidates to get on the ballot.

ElBaradei has said he may run for president if there are reforms to even the electoral playing field.

Mubarak has no designated successor and has not said if he will seek another term. Egyptian officials have denied reports that his health is deteriorating -- specifically, rumours of cancer. Mubarak had gallbladder surgery in Germany in March.

Holder arrived in Cairo on Monday after attending an African Union summit in Uganda. He has met Egypt's public prosecutor, interior and justice ministers and members of rights groups.

He said he had brought up the trial of two policemen accused of illegally arresting and torturing anti-corruption activist Khaled Said, who died in their custody. The case has drawn protests at home and the attention of rights groups and governments abroad.

"My hope will be that a full investigation will be done ... and if officials were involved in that action that they will be held accountable," Holder said.