CAIRO - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the best organised political group in the country, have warned against any attempt to delay parliamentary elections due in mid-November, saying they have heard rumours of bids to "keep the Army in power". The group posted a statement on their official website, for the first time publicly criticising the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took over after the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime. "Delaying the elections means delaying the process of drafting a constitution and postponing the election of a president. This means the SCAF stays in power. This is against the will of the people," read the statement. The group did not mention the source of the rumours. "The Brotherhood considers any attempt to delay the polls a violation of the principles and gains of the revolution," the statement added. The statement also included a message for the SCAF, politicians, men of law and the Egyptian people. "To the SCAF, the people appreciate the role you have played in the revolution and are waiting for you to fulfill your promises concerning the handover of power according to the constitutional declaration," it read. Neither the Government nor the ruling SCAF has announced a delay in the polls. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the SCAF, said yesterday the polls would be held in all transparency. "The Armed Forces will run the polls in all transparency and fairness," Tantawi told military commanders, stressing that freedom of expression is the legal right of every Egyptian. The Brotherhood, meanwhile, have called on the Egyptian people to be on the alert. "Wake up to the bids to twist your will and deceive you. Stand up against such bids and stick to your rights," the statement read. The group also slammed the efforts by the Government to issue constitutional principles in violation of the constitutional declaration. "A former and a current deputy prime minister are drafting some principles for the Constitution, against the roadmap of the declaration. We totally reject this," the statement on ikhwanonline.com read. Islamists reject binding conditions on the writing of Egypt's new Constitution, while secular groups and civil society see it as a chance to safeguard their interests, should the Islamists dominate the forthcoming elections.
