Egypt will hold its first multi-candidate presidential election on Wednesday, which is described by some media and political analysts as a landmark in the political landscape of the Arab world's most populous country.

"This is a landmark date for Egypt and its people," said an editorial of Khaleej Times on Tuesday, a leading English daily in the Middle East published from the Unite Arab Emirates.

Hosni Mubarak, the incumbent president and candidate of the ruling National Democratic Party, proposed in February to parliament that the constitution be amended to allow more than one candidate to stand in the presidential race.

Under Egypt's former political system, the president is not elected directly by the electorate. Instead, a sole candidate is chosen by parliament first and then the only nominee is put to a referendum.

In May, a referendum approved the constitutional amendment, paving the way for the first direct multi-candidate presidential election in Egypt.

From Aug. 17 to Sept. 4, ten presidential candidates began campaigning around the country, delivering speeches and presenting their election platforms to voters.

Mubarak, 77, has been in power since 1981 when his predecessor Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists for making peace with Israel. He is seeking his fifth six-year term.

The most prominent among the other nine candidates included Noman Gomaa of Egypt's oldest and most prominent opposition Wafd Party, and Ayman Nour of el-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party. The two were also seen as the most serious challengers to Mubarak.

Preparations for the poll are underway. The vote casting will last from 8:00 AM on Wednesday (05:00 GMT) to 8:00 PM (17:00 GMT), said the Presidential Election Commission.

Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif was quoted by local newspaper Daily Star as saying that the upcoming presidential election will be a "good first" step toward democracy.

"The world started with some skepticism. But we have a real campaign in place," he said, adding "we've started to gain credibility and trust, by our own people, which is very important and by the rest of the world."

Police have been told to let all Egyptians vote freely. "We ask them to exercise maximum self-restraint," Nazif said.

Tarek Osman, a columnist for local media, wrote "there is a dynamic of change in Egypt. I would argue that this election is serious and Egypt is moving towards a political structure that willbe far healthier and more vigorous than the current one."

"The process of change itself may be slow, but Egypt's newly dynamic political scene is opening a window, enabling the people to glimpse an alternative way of being citizens," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2005)