Egyptians began voting on Saturday in a run-off presidential election that offers them a stark choice between a conservative Islamist and a former top military officer who was the last prime minister of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

It is a novelty for ordinary Egyptians, who are choosing their leader for the first time in a history that stretches back to the pharaohs.

Polling stations opened to 50 million eligible voters for the first of two days of voting at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT), television reported. They close at 8 p.m.-Reuters