Election process in Egypt advanced

Philippine Times Monday 6th February, 2012

CAIRO - Egypt has decided to advance the election of a new president, giving in to the demands of increasingly violent protesters and raising hopes of a civilian government taking over the task of framing a new constitution.

Egyptian daily Al Ahram reported Monday that while the date for the presidential election is still to be finalized, the nomination date has been advanced by a month to March 10, according to Election Commission chief Abdel-Moez Ibrahim.

The official has indicated that the elections could also be advanced from the original plan to have them in June.

Protesters have been demanding that the military hasten the process of electing the new president to pave the way for a civilian government to take charge.

The military has been accused of continuing with the repressive measures of President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted one year back, and delaying the transition of power to an elected government.

Despite protests so far, the military has been dragging its feet and insisting on overseeing the writing of the constitutions before handing over power.

The news of plans to hold elections earlier brought some respite in the violence witnessed Sunday night with state police using force to curb protesters.

The truce seemed to hold for a large part of the day Monday, after five days of continuing clashes between protesters and the police. Ministry of health announced another death in the clashes, taking the toll to 13.

There continues to be simmering anger with activists upset with the government passively allowing the police to use violent means to control the crowd. The protesters are also demanding an early handover of power by the military junta and an end to police violence.

The police have been patrolling the streets where protests are being staged and using teargas to disperse the activists.

With parliament supporting the official ministry of interior stance on the clashes, citizens are becoming increasingly frustrated and have said they would not leave until the military is ousted.

Egyptian prosecutor's office meanwhile Monday named 19 Americans out of 43 people who are due to face trial for receiving foreign funding and illegally operating non-profit or civil society groups in Egypt.

Many of the NGO offices were raided last month with the military junta accusing them of supporting anti-government protests, a charge they have denied.

Reacting to the raids on NGO offices, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has warned it adversely impact bilateral relations and continuation of the over $1 billion aid provided by the US to Egypt.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, also voiced concern at the treatment being meted out to US citizens in Egypt who are engaged in helping build a more democratic society in the country.

Speaking on "CBS This Morning", Rice cautioned Egypt that the developments could have "serious consequences for our bilateral relationship."

Addressing media at a security meet in Munich, Egyptian Cabinet minister Mohammed Amr said since it is a judicial matter, the government cannot interfere

"We cannot actually exercise any influence on the investigating judges," the minister said.