Egypt ? Egypt’s ruling party won 112 seats in the first stage of the country’s parliamentary elections, or about 70 percent of those available, according to final results announced Thursday.

Announcing the results, Justice Minister Mahmoud Abu el-Leil also confirmed that the banned Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s most powerful Islamic fundamentalist group, more than doubled its presence in parliament, winning 34 seats.

The ruling National Democratic Party acquired 112 seats out of the 164 contested seats in the first round, which entailed an initial vote Nov. 9 then a run-off Tuesday. Independents got 13 seats and three opposition parties won five seats – two each to the centrist Wafd and leftist Tagammu parties and one to the centrist Ghad party.

The second round is to be held Sunday, followed by a final one Dec. 1, to determine the remainder of the 454-member parliament. Each stage is held in a different part of the country.