The Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces met with 25 leaders of political parties, in addition to Muslim Brotherhood General Guide Mohamed Badie, to discuss proposed constitutional amendments and mechanisms for impending parliamentary and presidential elections. Several party leaders requested the council extend the transitional period more than six months. The army has vowed to hand over power to an elected civilian government at which point the transitional period will conclude. No elections can be responsibly held before amending the law on elections, abolishing the committee for political party affairs, and transforming the state-run media in favor of the people, the party leaders said, adding more time was also needed to prepare their respective parties for the polls. They also called for the choosing of new ministers to be based on qualification, not cronyism, and for holding “unconditional” parliamentary elections. During the meeting, Brotherhood General Guide Badie said, “we have been subjected to injustice under the former regime and must now be given a role to play.” Wafd Party President Al-Sayed Al-Badawi said the council voiced support of staying the course on the pre-determined power transfer. “The council confirmed its commitment to a peaceful handover of power to a civilian government in order to ensure stability.” In other news, Democratic Front Party President Ossama al-Ghazali Harb urged the armed forces to interfere in Libya's strife on humanitarian grounds. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
