Egypt: Country In Continuos Evolution, Awaiting New Government
By MISNA
Egypt remains in a flux, with labor strikes, complaints over the Constitutional amendments policies proposed by a special commission and aimed toward a popular referendum, and the first indiscretions on the nominations for the new executive led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who replaced Ahmed Shafik last week.
In the midst of these developments, over the weekend, a group of demonstrators attacked the general headquarters of the Amn al-Dawla, the State Security police, which has earned the particular anger of the population given its reputation among the people for abuse, torture, harassment and disappearances since its inception in 1981 as part of the emergency laws.
There were protests against the Amn al-Dawla in various parts of the country, also prompted by rumors that the police was trying to destroy compromising documents.
A journalist from ‘al-Masry al-Youm’ was arrested for having taking pictures of some officers engaged in the destruction of apparently sensitive documents.
Meanwhile, Mohamed el-Baradei, one of the most visible opposition figures and a possible candidate in the next presidential election has criticized the Constitutional amendments announced by the military junta, asking for a more radical of the fundamental law before the elections themselves.
El-Baradei, a Nobel laureate and former director of the IAEA, said the amendments are not sufficient o lead the country toward democracy.
Today, meanwhile, could see the installation of the new ministers. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has been holding talks and consultations with various MP’s and there are already rumors about those who may be forming the new government.
In expectation of official confirmations, the most significant changes concern the ministry of Foreign Affairs which will move from Ahmed Aboul-Gheit to Nabil al-Arabi, and the Ministry of the Interior which will move from Mahmoud Wagdi to General Mansour al-Issaoui.
The continuously evolving scenario are occurring in a general context marked by workers strikes demanding better working conditions and salary increases.
The demonstrators include employees from the insurance and banking sector, 3000 employees from the ministry of aviation, factory workers from all industrial divisiosn, and several state company employees.
