Egypt to hold new elections in early 2014
Muslim Brotherhood rejects transition plan
09/07/2013 - 4:30pm
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood rejected on July 9 a timetable leading to fast track new elections in early 2014. The plan was announced by the country's interim president Adli Mansoor but the Brotherhood, from whose ranks deposed islamist Morsi rose to become president last year, says the process is illegitimate.
Just under a week of unrest and more than 80 deaths have interceded since Egypt's military ousted the first president to rise to the post through free and democratic elections in decades.
It appears that the country's new leadership is attempting to move fast and pre-empt Brotherhood threats to reverse the situation. The military also wants to show allies, especially the US which funds Egypt to the tune of $1bn each year, that it is moving fast to restore democracy.
Essam el-Erian, a senior Brotherhood figure and deputy head of its Freedom and Justice Party, rejected the transition timetable, saying it takes the country "back to zero."
"The cowards are not sleeping, but Egypt will not surrender," he wrote on his Facebook page
On July 8 more than 50 people died outside the Republican Guard headquarters, where the deposed president is thought to be held. The Muslim Brotherhood says protesters staging a sit in for president Morsi's reinstatement were attacked but the military says that its men fought back an attack by Morsi supporters.
The incident came on top of a series of clashes and attacks against military and other installations since July 3 when the head of the Egyptian armed forces announced that president Morsi had been deposed and a top judge would be taking his place until the pro-islamist constitution is revised and a new electoral law drafted.
According to the transition plan new parliamentary and presidential elections will be by early next year.
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