Fifty political parties, civil society organizations, youth coalitions, syndicates and student unions on Thursday launched an initiative to salvage the revolution At a press conference at Cairo University, the initiative said it calls on the ruling military council to maintain security for all citizens, and abide to a timetable to hand over power to an elected civilian authority no later than 30 April 2012. It also calls on the Interior Ministry to announce a plan to restore order and fight thuggery without affecting the dignity and freedom of citizens, and on the government to announce short-term steps to revive the economy and control prices, as well as set minimum and maximum wages in two weeks' time. The initiative further calls for activating the treason law; amending the the People's Assembly and Shura Council law in accordance with the demands of political forces; abolishing exceptional laws and tribunals, especially trying civilians before military courts; suspending Emergency Law; and announcing guarantees for freedom of expression. They issued a statement criticizing the sluggishness of the military council, saying it meets the demands of the revolution only when pressured to do so by mass demonstrations. The statement also denounced the council for issuing laws that restrict freedom of assembly, and for trying 12,000 civilians before military tribunals. Translated from the Arabic Edition
