CAIRO: Egypt's interim government said the military junta currently in charge of the country will remain in power until at least June, denying rumors that the military could give up power as early as April. The country's Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, speaking at the General Authority for Investment, said the military “cannot” relinquish power before the end of the transitional period of June. The prime minister again called on all political groups to give the interim government a chance and wait 6 months until the country's transitional period ends, which he said would include a new parliament and an elected president. “Leave the power to whom? The country has been aspiring for change for 60 years and suddenly it cannot wait for six months?” Ganzouri said at a press conference. His comments come as activists in the country are already building momentum toward the one-year anniversary of the January 25 uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak. They are looking at the date as the beginning of what many are calling the “second revolution” to oust the military from power. “I think it is time to make change happen and make it permanent,” Said Omar, a student activist and organizer at Cairo University, told Bikyamasr.com. “We have listened to the lies of the military and seen them kill people so why believe them now?” The military, when they took over power of Egypt on February 11, said they would remain in power for a maximum 6 months. Now nearly one year on, and scores of Egyptians dead by the military's bullets and force, Egyptians are looking to move again toward popular uprising. “Egypt has achieved a lot, changed the regime and succeeded in organizing democratic parliamentary elections,” Ganzouri said. He added he had met with ambassadors from the G8 countries and ministers from Arab states to help Egypt tackle economic difficulties. Egypt has nearly completed the final stage vote of the People's Assembly. The new legislature will convene on January 23. The ruling military council has shortened the voting process for the Shura Council. Elections of the consultative body will end on February 22. The country will elect a new president before June 30 this year, the military claims, although worries abound as to whether this will be achieved. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/NU8RX Tags: featured, Ganzouri, Jan25, SCAF Section: Egypt, Latest News
