Essam Sharaf says delay in elections a good idea

Essam Sharaf, appointed by the ruling military council as prime minister, has departed from their stated position by suggesting that a delay in the plan to hold elections in September may be a good idea. “Postponing the elections would give the chance for a larger number of political parties to develop,” he said. This was not an off-the-cuff remark at a press conference. Rather, it was a response on an online service, masrawy.com, which would have given him time to reflect on what he was saying.

He also hinted that it might also be a good idea to draft a constitution before rather than after the elections as currently planned.

He emphasised that he was speaking in a personal capacity. He said that the cabinet would do all it could to ensure a fair and secure vote if the election went ahead as scheduled.

But the expression of his view, whether or not co-ordinated with the military high command, appears to support the campaign of the plethora of mainly liberal parties that they need more time to prepare. There is the other concern that the main beneficiaries of elections in September would be the Muslim Brotherhood, the most organised of political movements.

And the Muslim Brotherhood was very critical of the prime minister's comment. A leading figure said that the path laid out had already been accepted by a referendum on 19th March which approved amendments to the constitution by an overwhelming 77 per cent of the vote.

"The people want to transfer power to a civilian administration. This is in the interest of the country," said Sobhi Saleh, a Brotherhood leader. "The Muslim Brotherhood is against postponement and against drafting the constitution before elections."

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Egypt in turmoil again after attacks on two churches

Egyptian Christians are holding a protest near Cairo's Tahrir Square following an attack on two churches in which 12 people died. More than 180 people were injured in clashes on Saturday 7th May after the attacks reportedly carried out by conservative Muslims in the Imbaba area.

The protesters have voiced their anger over the army's inability to protect them; however, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces says it has detained more than 190 people involved in the violence who will face military trails, and added that the move should act as a "deterrent" against further violence.

Egypt's Prime Minister Essam Sharaf postponed a visit to the Gulf to hold talks about the most recent troubles within the country. Speaking shortly after the meeting Justice Minister Abdel Aziz Al-Gindi warned that those involved in the violence will face "an iron fist". He added that the government would "immediately and firmly implement the laws that criminalise attacks against places of worship and freedom of belief", allowing for the death penalty to be applied.

The authorities are promising tougher measures religious attacks but it is yet to be seen whether or not those measures will be implemented. Egypt is undergoing security problems since the departure of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, with the discredited police staying out of communal conflicts.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates urges Egypt to take time over elections

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has urged Egypt's interim leaders to take time over new elections, pointing out that the country's various political groups, who helped oust president Hosni Mubarak, need time to organise themselves into political parties.

During a two day visit to Cairo, Gates said he wanted to reassure Egypt of Washington's commitment to help the country transition into a democracy. The US is somewhat concerned that early elections will mostly benefit the country's main opposition party, the staunchly Islamist, Muslim Brotherhood (MB).

After talks with Egypt's interim prime minister, Essam Sharaf, Gates said: "I'm absolutely not going to second-guess either the Supreme Council or the interim government…I would simply say that we believe it is important to allow those new elements that have become active in Egyptian politics, some of them for the first time, to have the time to develop political parties and to develop organisation and structure," in order to “play the same kind of leading role in Egypt in the future that they played in bringing about this change in the first place."

Gates also met with Egypt's Military Leader Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, to whom he spoke repeatedly during the protests, and commended the country's military for protecting the Egyptian people. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gates said: "He told me the Army would protect the people…And in everything that ensued, he and the Army kept their word."

Sources: WSJ, Reuters, AP, CNN International

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

Protesters say "down with state security"

According to various sources, pro-democracy protesters broke into the interior ministry and secret police offices and reportedly obtained 11 classified documents confirming oppression of the people of Egypt under the former government.

On Sunday 6th March, the protesters demonstrating in Cairo to demand reforms of the security services were attacked by men in civilian clothes armed with knives and bombs. It is yet unclear who exactly is responsible for the attacks, but the restructuring of Egypt's security has been one of the key demands made by the pro-democracy protesters.

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has called on those who had appropriated the documents to submit them to the Council, a call that was seconded by Egypt's new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Friday 4th March. Speaking to the crowds in Tahrir Square Sharaf was greeted with people changing, "down with state security".

Egypt's military rulers are worried about the country's internal security and lack the necessary experience to manage civilian matters, which leaves Egypt in a somewhat precarious position.

It is thought that Sharaf's new cabinet, however, will most likely be accepted by the protesters as it contains no remnants of the old regime. Sharaf named former Cairo security chief Maj Gen Mansour El-Essawy as the new interior minister, Nabil Elaraby as the new foreign minister and Mahmoud Al-Guindy as the new justice minister.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Aljazeera

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

Egypt’s Prime Minister resigns

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has released a statement saying that Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has resigned. The statement added that former transport minister, Essam Sharaf, is to replace Shafiq and form a new government.

Shafiq, a close alley of former president Hosni Mubarak, was appointed just days before Mubarak's resignation and is seen by the protesters as a remnant of the old regime. In a statement on Facebook, the Council said: "The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces decided to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and appointed Essam Sharaf to form the new government."

One of the protesters' demands has been the removal from office of all ministers associated with Mubarak, but it is unclear whether this will appease the activists calling for a "Day of Determination" on Friday. The protesters are demanding a new government and dissolution of state security, as well as a new constitution and a civilian council to aide the army.

Speaking about tomorrow's rally leading member of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition Zyad El-Elaimy said: “Tomorrow's protest was not just for Shafiq,” before adding it was “great” that the Council has “finally listened” to the people.

Sources: BBC News, NewsMax, Aljazeera Washington Post

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.