Egyptian rights organizations on Monday called for a cabinet reshuffle to address what they described as government laxity. Egyptian media reports recently said Prime Minister Essam Sharaf intends to change the ministers of interior, health and higher education. Observers believe the performance of certain ministries to be erratic, and that they are incapable of coping with emerging crises. In a statement, the organizations accused the government of being slow to address problems and called on the prime minister to adopt a new strategy to achieve progress and protect society. The statement called for more positive action in handling aspects of daily life, such as security and the economy. It urged solutions to the high crime rate and what they described as the passivity of police in addressing crime. Emad Hegab, a rights activist, emphasized the need for the government to respond to the demands of Egyptians by introducing changes to the government. Organizations that signed the statement include Observers Without Borders, the Network for the Defenders of Human Rights, the Civil Coalition for Freedom, Justice and Democracy, and Alam Gadeed for Development and Human Rights. Translated from the Arabic Edition
