Egypt`s electoral body is set to announce Ahmed Shafiq as the country`s new president on Sunday evening, several government sources claimed.
Western diplomats in Cairo also said they have heard similar predictions from Cabinet members over the last three days.
A source in the current government said that Shafiq will be declared victor with 50.7 percent of the vote, in an outcome that is likely to be strongly disputed by the Muslim Brotherhood`s candidate, Mohamed Mursi.
Mursi`s campaign has previously shrugged off Shafiq`s claims of a victory, insisting they have compiled strong evidence to the contrary.
Sources at the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) would not confirm to Ahram Online the claims of a Shafiq win.
It is unclear if it is simply another salvo in the ongoing campaign agains the Muslim Brotherhood.
[Developed in partnership with Ahram Online.]