Egypt military postpones key elections

Protesters chant slogans as they demonstrate at Liberation Square in Cairo, Egypt, July 12, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188949.html

Egypt's military rulers have postponed crucial parliamentary elections until November -- two months later than originally planned.

"It has been decided to hold elections for the People's Assembly and the Shura Council next October or November," MENA quoted a senior military official as saying.

Egyptian army sources say the registration of candidates will start in September.

The delay is expected to deepen the mistrust between the public and Egypt's military leadership.

It is also expected to raise fresh questions about the army's faithfulness to its promise of starting the handover of power to civilians.

The announcement comes as thousands of protesters are still camped out in Liberation Square in the capital, Cairo, for a fifth day.

Some of the protesters are chanting slogans against the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Others are calling on Field Marshal, and de facto president, Hussein Tantawi to step down.

A Press TV correspondent says the sit-in goes on amid threats by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces that says it will do whatever it can to bring an end to the gathering.

Following the downfall of former President Hosni Mubarak, the military council has taken over in Egypt. Many Egyptians believe the council is trying to derail the uprising.

The demonstrators call for an end to the military council's rule and demand that they go back to their barracks and hand over power to a civilian government.