Egyptians vote in first post-Mubarak presidential election

AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams

Source: Russia Today
http://www.rt.com/news/egypt-vote-presidential-election-941/

Egyptian voters are heading to the polls to elect the country’s new president. And with popular support ranging from former Mubarak regime loyalists to Islamists, the poll is likely to head into a runoff.

The election is Egypt’s first presidential poll after longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak was toppled last year.

More than half of the country's 50 million eligible voters are undecided on whom to vote for, opinion polls show. Those that are decided, however, are split between the 13 candidates in the race, and four presidential hopefuls have already been tipped as frontrunners.

The list includes Amr Moussa, who served as foreign minister under Mubarak, as well as Ahmed Shafiq, who was Mubarak’s last prime minister and served as the civil aviation minister. The former regime's loyalists have been appealing to the secular and moderate electorate, fearful of an Islamist takeover of the traditionally relatively laic state.

The top four also includes Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, and Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, a moderate Islamist who was expelled from the Muslim Brotherhood for his decision to run in the presidential race. Abolfotoh has since emerged as a crossover candidate, receiving support from both liberals and the ultraconservative Salafis.

With votes dispersed among the candidates, the first round is unlikely to produce Egypt’s new head of state, and a runoff has already been scheduled for June. That is ahead of a July 1 deadline, when the ruling military council is set to relinquish power over the country.

However, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), helmed by Marshall Hussein Tantawi, recently proposed an interim constitution that would expand the SCAF's role at the expense of parliament and the president. The proposed document would allow the military council to review the military’s internal affairs, including the budget, armaments and military law. Some observers believe that the SCAF and Tantawi are unwilling to give up their control over the country, and are seeking ways to prolong their oversight after the July 1 deadline.

The SCAF has been at odds with the Islamist-dominated parliament, and the presidential election seems unlikely to resolve the tensions between religious and secular politicians.

A Moussa or Shafiq victory will likely spell gridlock between the president and parliament. The Muslim Brotherhood has been arguing that, being the largest faction in the legislature, it should get the right to nominate a prime minister and form the government. However, the interim constitution gives that power to the president.

A Morsi victory could spell further strife between the Islamists and the military.

Although President Mubarak was widely criticized for suppressing political dissent and rigging elections, the conditions in the country’s cities have devolved since his overthrow, with reports of rampant crime and public services falling out of service. Many voters want the new president to usher in a new era of peace and stability

China makes 'own decision' on trade disputes with US

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122250§ionid=3510213


Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Chen Jian has said his country will make its own decisions on the foreign exchange policy.

"The Chinese government will make responsible and independent decisions on the foreign exchange policy based on its economic and monetary situation," Chen told reporters on Friday.

The Chinese official further rejected US accusations that the yuan is undervalued.

"This is nothing to be criticized. China's foreign exchange rate is not undervalued," he added.

US officials claim that the yuan is undervalued by as much as 40 percent against the dollar.

According to Chen, the yuan was not to blame for global economic problems.

"A disease in the head cannot be cured by treating the foot," he went on to say.

"The imbalance in the world economy is rooted in mistaken policies in some countries... and imbalances in the international monetary management system."

He made the remarks amid strains in the two countries' relationship over a number of issues including Taiwan and Tibet as well as trade disputes.

China firm on suspending US ties

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119441§ionid=351020404


Amid strained China-US ties over Washington's sale of arms to Taiwan, China has urged the US to be cautious to prevent more damage.

"China demands that the US speak and act cautiously to avoid causing further damage to relations between the two countries," Huang Xueping, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said on Thursday.

He also noted that Beijing would not reverse its decision to suspend bilateral military plans with Washington.

"China's decision to suspend planned China-US military visits has not changed."

The tension between the two countries emerged after the US announced in January that it would sell $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan.

The deal included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet.

China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, reacted to Washington's move by imposing sanctions on US companies involved in the military agreement.

The Pentagon said earlier on Wednesday that Beijing also postponed several high-profile military exchanges with Washington.

A number of other issues such as US President Barack Obama's meeting with the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, and Google's claims of being targeted by cyber attacks in China have worsened ties between the two major powers.

Xueping's remarks, reported by the Xinhua news agency, indicates China has not put aside the public ire with Washington, despite allowing a US aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong last week.