(Image source: BikyaMasr)

BY BLAKE HANSON

Unofficial early results for Egypt’s first free election in more than 50 years are in. As expected, Islamist groups are taking a big chunk of the vote. The Wall Street Journal reports...

“Unofficial initial results from the first two days of Egypt's parliamentary elections pointed to a dominant showing for Islamist candidates, fulfilling most analysts' expectations that conservative religious politicians could have the upper hand in next year's drafting of a new Egyptian constitution.”

Not so fast says NBC’s World Blog. A writer there is making a big claim -- saying the Muslim Brotherhood, known as the FJP, is bending the rules...

“...we saw a party member ... passing out leaflets to voters waiting in long lines to cast their ballots – in clear violation of election laws. In a more economically disadvantaged part of Cairo ... a mother of three, watched FJP members pass out free packages of rice and oil to voters on their way to the polling station – again in contravention of campaign law.”

After Egypt’s revolution as part of the Arab Spring -- just how worried should Egyptians be? CNN offers this analysis...

“It is really all up to the Muslim Brotherhood right now and how moderate of a stand they want to take, certainly this country cannot deny it is a multi-religious society, Christians make up 10 percent, secularists represent another element.”
“The answers have to come from the people that are going to control the parliament.”

But some international observers warn an Islamist win could spell bad news for women’s freedom in Egypt. Fox News reports...

“We’ve also been hearing some discouraging words from many women we speak, have spoken to on the street, worried about what their status might be in the future government here because of the promotion of Sharia Law, Islamic Law.”

Israeli media is already reporting tensions are high surrounding the possible Islamist win. The Jerusalem Post writes...

“Last week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the revolutions roiling the Arab world were heading not towards progress and liberalism, but producing ‘an Islamic, anti-Western, anti-liberal, anti-Israeli and anti-democratic wave.’”

Many are also asking what sort of an impact Islamic control might have on the U.S. NBC News has more...

“The brotherhood is powerful, rich, often anti-American and definitely anti-Israel.”
“The potential political fallout could be severe, Egypt has long been a close and reliable U.S. partner in the Middle East, that could be changing.”

CNN reports the election results announcement has been postponed until Friday or Saturday.