Egypt’s election commission denied allegations of fraud today and confirmed the presidential election will continue as planned next month, the Los Angeles Times is reporting. conservative Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi and former prime minister and secularist Ahmed Shafik will face each other in the election.

Morsi received 5.76 million votes, as compared to Shafik’s 5.5 million, in last week’s first round election, according to official figures. The Supreme Presidential Election Commission denied bribery and fraud claims by the losing candidates, including socialist Hamdeen Sabahi, who came in third place. He was regarded by the cultural elite as an ideal alternative to Morsi and Shafik.

The appeals made by Sabahi and front-runner Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who finished in fourth place, “were not based on justifications of law and facts that could lead to nullifying the electoral process,” Farouk Sultan, the head of the commission, said. He added that the rumors that at least 600,000 army and police officers voted were false, as they’re not allowed to cast ballots.

Judges oversaw the polling stations and ballots for the 13 candidates in the election. The military-backed government allowed national and international monitors access to much of the process.

Former American President Jimmy Carter said that violations occurred, but not enough to harm the integrity of the outcome. He added the poll was a great step forward from the elections held during the last 30 years of oppressive rule.

Written by: Karen Benardello