ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: The ruling military council draws its legitimacy from the March referendum, when a number of constitutional articles were amended, said Mohamed Seleim al-Awa, an Islamic intellectual and potential presidential candidate. Al-Awa expressed his respect and appreciation for the Egyptian Army, which supported the January 25 Revolution. At a meeting at the Smouha club, al-Awa indicated his support for ending the transitional period through parliamentary elections in September. The demonstrations held at Tahrir Square and around the country gather the different factions and political voices of the Egyptian people to ask for the demands of the January 25 Revolution to be met. A democratic state must be established and authority must be transferred peacefully, al-Awa said, adding that Islam supports the principles of a civil state. Egyptians have the right to express themselves without compromising their political or religious identity, he said. Friday's demonstrations restored the spirit of unity and will strongly contribute to achieving the objectives of the January 25 Revolution, al-Awa said. All political powers must unify their objectives to achieve stability in the pre-elections period, he added. The Egyptian revolution is different from other revolutions as it ousted a president and a regime in 18 days, and was led by no clear individual, but rather by many people, al-Awa said. Al-Awa said that he has formed a committee – comprised of 12 professors and many specialists – to draft a campaign platform and create a vision for health care and education.
