CAIRO: Egypt's leading political forces over the past 48 hours have condemned the continued violence that has erupted in Cairo after the country's military attacked a peaceful sit-in on Friday early morning. Abul Ela Madi, the chief of the Islamist al-Wasat Party, in his condemnation also quit the country's advisory council – established to push the country toward a democratic transition – and called for an end to the violence. The council, in response to a number of resignations over the past 48 hours, announced it would no longer be meeting in protest over the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) crackdown. Potential presidential candidate Ayman Nour called for the ruling military junta to “leave power immediately.” He has been more outspoken in recent months, since the military ruled he could not stand for political office as a result of his imprisonment under former President Hosni Mubarak on corruption charges. Most supporters and observers believe Mubarak was attempting to silence his most outspoken critic by sending Nour to jail in 2005 for alleged fraud. Other political leaders, including the Muslim Brotherhood have condemned the violence, although the Brotherhood has simply demanded an apology from the military over the violence that has left at least 10 people and over 500 injured. Another potential presidential candidate Hamdeen Sahabi was arguably the most critical of the political leaders, saying “forcibly ending a peaceful sit-in and attacking protesters is rejected completely,” Sabahi, one of the founding members of the Nasserist El-Karama Party, wrote on his Twitter account. “Sit-ins are a legitimate right of citizens and those who took the decision should resign immediately.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/OL4mu Tags: Ayman Nour, Occupy Cabinet, Protests, SCAF Section: Egypt, Latest News
