Five Egyptian human rights groups yesterday called on Prime Minister Essam Sharaf to replace seven ministers as well as deputy prime minister Yehia el-Gamal as soon as possible over their alleged failure to "respect expectations of the Egyptian people". The groups urged Sharaf in a letter to dismiss el-Gamal as well as ministers of transport, health, industry, water resources, civil aviation, housing and telecommunications "for lacking a clear-cut strategy to develop the sectors they lead". "Those ministers and the deputy premier could not achieve expectations of the Egyptian people for lacking a roadmap to the future," the group added in the letter. The groups also called on Sharaf to adopt new ways to improve people's daily life." Otherwise "resign and open the way for new Government to take over such heavy responsibility," they told Sharaf who was picked for the post last March. The groups sending the letter are New World for Development and Human Rights; the Reform and Citizenship; Observers without Borders Network; Advocates of Human Rights; and the Civil Society for Justice and Democracy.
