Monday, February 14, 2011

Back to the Future: Down With the Pharaoh! Long Live the Military Junta??



Egypt's military rejects swift transfer of power and suspends constitution

Ruling military council intends to retain power for six months or longer while elections are scheduled and will rule by decree

Chris McGreal in Cairo
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 13 February 2011

"The Egyptian military has rejected the demands of pro-democracy protesters for a swift transfer of power to a civilian administration, saying it intends to rule by martial law until elections are held.

The army's announcement, which included the suspending of the constitution, was a further rebuff to some pro-democracy activists after troops were sent to clear demonstrators from Cairo's Tahrir Square, the centre of the protests that brought down Hosni Mubarak. "We do not want any protesters to sit in the square after today," said the head of the military police, Mohamed Ibrahim Moustafa Ali. Many agreed to leave but a hardcore refused, saying they would remain until the army took a series of steps toward democratic reform including installing a civilian-led government and abolishing the repressive state of emergency......

The military regime has also retained Mubarak's cabinet, to the frustration of some protesters.


"There is no change in the form, method or process of work. Matters are completely stable," said the prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq. "Our main concern now as a cabinet is security. We need to bring back a sense of security to the Egyptian citizen."[The same words used by the Pharaoh! What has changed? Even Break-Their-Legs-Abul-Gheit is still the Foreign Minister! Is Tzipi Livni going to visit him soon in Cairo for another photo op and to lend him support? The Gaza siege is still on! This is the new Egypt? I hope not.]....

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