Democracy in action - Egypt's presidential candidates cast their vote as the country goes to the polls.

In Cairo, former foreign minister and head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, casts his ballot.

At this polling station, Independent Islamist presidential hopeful Abdul Moneim Abol Fotouh - a frontrunner with Moussa - casts his vote.

Official Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi was in Suez to cast his ballot while leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahi votes at this Cairo polling station.

Thousands of Egyptians have turned out for the unprecedented presidential poll - the first free vote in an election that is pitting Islamists against men who served under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

The poll is also being overseen by a number of international election monitors - including former US president Jimmy Carter from the Carter Center and US Republican congressman David Dreier.

None of the 12 candidates running in the race is expected to get more than half the votes with a run off between the top two likely in June.

Sunita Rappai, Reuters