Egypt Elections: The Official US Statement "Reports Give Us Cause for Concern"

From the State Department:

Reports from domestic civil society monitors, candidate representatives, and government officials on the conduct of yesterday’s elections give us cause for concern. We are disappointed by reports in the pre-election period of disruption of campaign activities of opposition candidates and arrests of their supporters, as well as denial of access to the media for some opposition voices. We are also dismayed by reports of election-day interference and intimidation by security forces. These irregularities call into question the fairness and transparency of the process. We continue to believe that allowing international observers to monitor and freely report on elections, a normal practice in the region and around the world, is very important in building public confidence in a fair and open election.

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Egypt Watch: Latest on the Parliamentary Elections

For previous updates on the election, see our Sunday-Monday LiveBlog and our video collection:

2110 GMT: Security sources say 16 people died and more than 100 were injured during Sunday's elections. They claim the victims died from heart attacks, diabetic coma. and fights.

2100 GMT: In the Upper Egyptian city of Qena, hundreds of people gathered today in front of an administrative building of the governorate to protest the alleged rigging of the vote against independent candidate Alnumeiry Rashwan in the city of Niqada.

Streets around the governorate’s administrative complex were closed and the city was put under tight security.

In Niqada, two candidates of the ruling National Democratic Party are in a run-off.

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Egypt Video Special: Proof of Violence and Fraud in the Elections?

The videos, posted on Sunday and today, of conflict and possible vote manipulations in Egypt's Parliamentary elections:

Alleged vote manipulation in Fayoum:

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Egypt Latest: Today's Parliamentary Elections

We have now moved the LiveBlog to the top of the page, continuing our coverage of the aftermath of the election.

Egypt: Who Disabled Facebook's "We Are All Khaled Said" Page?

UPDATE 1520 GMT: An activist reports, "Facebook reinstated the [Egyptian] groups but the moderators as of last night remain suspended, i.e., the groups are dead in the water."

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As Presidential elections approach, tension is rising in Egypt. On Thursday, authorities arrested 156 protesters over Wednesday's  clashes between Christians and police, sparked by the government's refusal of a permit to build a church. Those arrested have been accused of planning to kill policemen, and the public prosecutor has ordered their detention for two weeks.

One sign of the concern is the apparent decision to block the Facebook page "We Are All Khaled Said". In June, Said was allegedly beaten to death in Alexandria by two policemen after he refused to give them money. 

The case has sparked widespread, continuing protests, and the page gathered more than 3000 followers.

So, with more restrictions on information likely as the vote draws near, is Facebook --- which is a leading social media site in Egypt --- collaborating with the authorities?