Supporters of Muslim Brotherhood demonstrate
Supporters of Muslim Brotherhood demonstrateReuters

Tension is rising as Egyptians await the Electoral Commission announcement revealing the identity of the country's next president.

Police and military officials have already tightened security around the country, and especially in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where personnel are moving into position to be able to prevent violence in case riots erupt.

The iconic central area, where Egyptians ignited the January 25 Revolution that toppled the government of former President Hosni Mubarak, is filled with Muslim Brotherhood voters.

If 60-year-old Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi, a U.S.-educated engineer wins -- an Islamist victory once considered impossible --  the candidate has said he will form a national coalition government.

If Mursi turns out not to be the winner of this run-off election, it is anticipated the Square will erupt with massive, violent riots.

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who once also served as air force commander under Mubarak, is the other possible winner in the run-off election.

A victory for Shafiq would mean a victory for the “old guard” and for the former regime in many eyes, and a blow to Islamist dreams of a Caliphate in Egypt.

Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei, who once served as head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters that he is worried about how the electoral results will be received by the Egyptian populace. If the Islamist candidate, Mursi, is not elected, warned ElBaradei, “we are in for a lot of instability and violence... a major uprising,” he was quoted by CNN