Saturday, 01 October 2011
Egyptians protest against the country’s military rulers’ decision to retain the much hated emergency laws used throughout the reign of ousted President Hosni Mubarak. (File Photo)
Egypt’s military chief of staff Sami Enan is due to meet party leaders on Saturday, a day after protesters converged on Cairo’s central Tahrir Square to demand reforms.
Enan, who is also second in command in the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), invited various parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd, the state-owned al-Ahram newpaper reported.
Saturday’s meeting comes a day after thousands flocked to Tahrir Square to demand an end to military trials of civilians, cleansing institutions of former regime remnants, amendment to a recently published electoral law and social justice.
Enan, who is also second in command in the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), invited various parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd, the state-owned al-Ahram newpaper reported.
Saturday’s meeting comes a day after thousands flocked to Tahrir Square to demand an end to military trials of civilians, cleansing institutions of former regime remnants, amendment to a recently published electoral law and social justice.
Several thousand protesters are also demanding the country’s military rulers put an end to emergency laws dating back to the rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
The much-hated laws give police almost unquestionable powers and activists say they are to blame for much of the human rights abuse that occurred under Mubarak, who was ousted in February after a popular uprising.
Friday’s rallies in Cairo as well as in other cities were held under the banner “Reclaiming the Revolution”.
The latest criticism of the ruling military council also centers on a law governing the parliamentary election process which is widely-believed to favor Mubarak-era officials. Activists and political parties are threatening a boycott of elections scheduled at the end of November.
SCAF has been in power since Mubarak was ousted and has repeatedly stressed its commitment to democracy.
Protesters have been gathering at Tahrir Square on an almost weekly basis to express anger and frustration at the military’s handling of the transition.
Several arrests were made on Friday after some of the protesters were prevented from heading to the defense ministry.
Others said they would remain in the square until their demands were met.
On Tuesday, SCAF laid out the timetable for the first post-Mubarak elections, which will start on November 28 and take place over four months.
A presidential election is expected to be held next year.
The Democratic Coalition, which groups dozens of parties including the Muslim Brotherhood and Wafd, has threatened to boycott the vote.
Under Mubarak, candidates affiliated with his party used patronage or pressure to garner votes.
Activists say that a proportional list system would help avoid that, because voters would be electing candidates based on a party's political platform, circumventing candidates' personal power and influence.
The much-hated laws give police almost unquestionable powers and activists say they are to blame for much of the human rights abuse that occurred under Mubarak, who was ousted in February after a popular uprising.
Friday’s rallies in Cairo as well as in other cities were held under the banner “Reclaiming the Revolution”.
The latest criticism of the ruling military council also centers on a law governing the parliamentary election process which is widely-believed to favor Mubarak-era officials. Activists and political parties are threatening a boycott of elections scheduled at the end of November.
SCAF has been in power since Mubarak was ousted and has repeatedly stressed its commitment to democracy.
Protesters have been gathering at Tahrir Square on an almost weekly basis to express anger and frustration at the military’s handling of the transition.
Several arrests were made on Friday after some of the protesters were prevented from heading to the defense ministry.
Others said they would remain in the square until their demands were met.
On Tuesday, SCAF laid out the timetable for the first post-Mubarak elections, which will start on November 28 and take place over four months.
A presidential election is expected to be held next year.
The Democratic Coalition, which groups dozens of parties including the Muslim Brotherhood and Wafd, has threatened to boycott the vote.
Under Mubarak, candidates affiliated with his party used patronage or pressure to garner votes.
Activists say that a proportional list system would help avoid that, because voters would be electing candidates based on a party's political platform, circumventing candidates' personal power and influence.
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