Egypt's Military Vows to Abide by New Constitution

By Emad Mekay

"...Both Tantawi and Al-Rewiny appear to want a more subdued transformation, with the military's privileges accrued under Mubarak maintained.

Al-Rewiny recently accused some protestors who have rallied for a faster pace of change of being foreign agents, and claimed that they were working against the national interest of the country. He specifically mentioned the April 6 Group, which is made up of die- hard protesters who occasionally use anarchistic tactics, and said they were receiving foreign funding and training outside the country.

Tantawi, although he opposed corruption by businessmen and companies associated with Mubarak and criticised the country's fast privatisation programme even when serving under Mubarak, is widely seen as a man opposed to drastic changes in the country.

But both factions are dealing with rising impatience among Egyptians. Many ordinary Egyptians say they haven't yet felt the benefits of the revolution and that the military was moving too slowly towards democracy for a revolution of this size."


(General Hassan el-Roweini in Tahrir Square on 5 February, arrogantly talking to protesters and journalists, during his attempt to disperse the sit-in…
Courtesy of Hossam El-Hamalawy)