Millions of Egyptians tuned into the debate between Presidential frontrunners Amr Moussa, former minister of foreign affairs and ex-chief of the Arab League, and Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futoh, a Muslim Brotherhood defect.
The two men hope to be the next president of Egypt after a mass uprising in last February ousted Mubarak who had ruled the country for over 30 years.
The debate last night was a rare moment in the Arab region enthralled by uprisings but largely dominated by autocrats and political uncertainty. The debate was aired on two private Egyptian television channels, ONTV and Dream.
Moussa, 75, attacked Abul-Futoh, who has attended protests, for sympathising with demonstrators at the expense of national security.
Abul-Futoh, 60, countered by suggesting that Moussa, who served under Mubarak a decade ago, was complicit in the oppression that led to the uprising.
"You worked for the benefit of one group, the Muslim Brotherhood, not for Egypt as a nation," Mussa told Abul-Futoh, who quit the once-banned group a year ago.
Abul-Futoh highlighted Mussa's connection to the Mubarak regime. "When you are part of a problem, you cannot provide the solution," Abul-Futoh said.
Debates are to be held between two candidate each Thursday up to the elections which are to be held on May 23 and 24 with runoffs if needed in June.
The two answered questions on the constitution, taxes and balancing human rights with providing security during the first part of the debate, before turning their attentions to foreign affairs, priorities and their opinion of military leaders who have been Egypt's ruling power since Mubarak's ouster.
