BBC News with Iain Purdon

Egyptians have turned out in large numbers to vote on a mostly peaceful first day of elections to a new parliament - the first since President Hosni Mubarak was

toppled

in February. Polling stations have closed now after the governing military council kept them open an extra two hours to

cope with

the long queues of voters. A US Republican congressman David Dreier is in Egypt to observe the elections.

"From what I have observed moving throughout Cairo, this is a great day for the people of Egypt. The level of enthusiasm is very high. By and large, to see the lines and the enthusiasm and the willingness of people to wait is, I think, a very encouraging sign."

A United Nations report has accused Syria of gross

systematic

human rights violations during the recent anti-government demonstrations.The report alleges that torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearance were used by the government and security forces against protesters. From Geneva, here's Imogen Foulkes.

The UN team interviewed over 200 victims and eyewitnesses to events in Syria. Their report contains

chilling

evidence of abuse: summary executions, sexual violence, in which male detainees were raped, even the torture of children. The UN team found credible evidence that at least two children died as a result of torture by Syrian security forces. The report has detailed accounts from former members of the Syrian army - soldiers who deserted rather than follow orders to fire on unarmed protesters.