EGYPT: Ruling generals reaffirm their stated commitment to hand power to civilian government
Record ID:
593337
EGYPT: Ruling generals reaffirm their stated commitment to hand power to civilian government
- Title: EGYPT: Ruling generals reaffirm their stated commitment to hand power to civilian government
- Date: 4th May 2012
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT: (MAY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION FOR INFORMATION NAMEPLATE READING: "GENERAL ASSOCIATION FOR INFORMATION" WIDE OF PRESS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE SCAF GENERAL MOHAMED EL-ASSAR, SAYING: "We do not get bored of repeating this every time and everywhere and today we are clearly and frankly announcing that the armed forces and its Supreme Council are obliged to transfer power on the scheduled date, before June 30, 2012. This is our position because we are not aiming to continue holding onto power, we are not aiming to rule any more and we are not demanding any powers. In the first day we took power, we declared in a statement on February 13, 2011 that the Military Council is not an alternative to the civil legacy in Egypt" WIDE OF PRESS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EL-ASSAR, SAYING: "We are obliged to hold one hundred percent fair elections, we do not have any joint interests with anyone [presidential candidates] and we are not supporting any of the candidates, all of the candidates are Egyptians and respectful and everyone of them deserves to be a president of the country, but the people's will, will determine the president." CAMERAMAN FILMING MEMBERS OF SCAF (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE SCAF GENERAL, MOKHTAR AL-MOULLA, SAYING: "Egypt needs the co-operation and the solidarity of all Egyptians and the person, who thinks that he/she would threaten the security of the homeland, the civilians or even threatening the armed forces or raising controversial questions on its national tasks, should review his/her opinion, because the national duty, the law, the right of legitimate self-defense and the military honour will motivate the army personnel to defend the headquarters of the ministry of defence and all army facilities." WIDE OF PRESS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-MOULLA, SAYING: "I want to greet all of the army men, soldiers, officers, and commanders for their duties during fifteen months as they suffered from problems and insults, but they were honest men and they did their best for the sake of the homeland, but if someone approaches their home [Ministry of defence] he/she will be responsible for the reactions." ARMY GENERALS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 19th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7HN1Y5C9GOSLZL4FEA52C1ATX
- Story Text: Members of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said on Thursday (May 3) they will hand over the power to civilians by June 30th.
Egypt's military council took power on February 11, 2012 after an 18-day public uprising that ousted President Mubarak from power last year.
"We are clearly and frankly announcing that the armed forces and its Supreme Council are obliged to transfer power on the scheduled date, before June 30, 2012," SCAF member, general, Mohamed El-Assar, told a news conference.
SCAF has encountered waves of demonstrations over its policies following the removal of Mubarak.
Unknown assailants opened fire on sit-in supporters of the hardline Salafi Cleric Hazem Abu Ismail who has been disqualified from the Presidential race because his mother had an American passport.
The attack left at least eleven people dead and dozens injured seriously in and around the vicinity of the ministry of defence in Abbassiya district.
Egyptian protesters, from various ideologies, were scheduled to hold a one-man rally next Friday (May 4) that dubbed as; "The Friday on the end" to protest the recent bloody clashes in Abbassiya.
"I want to greet all of the army men, soldiers, officers, and commanders for their duties during fifteen months as they suffered from problems and insults, but they were honest men and they did their best for the sack of homeland, but if someone approaches their home [Ministry of defence] he/she will be responsible for the reactions," member of the SCAF, Mokhtar al-Moulla, said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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