Egypt braces for 'Cleansing Friday' rally

Thu Mar 24, 2011

A major Egyptian youth movement has called on fellow citizens to participate in a protest on Friday against a new law that prohibits demonstrations and strikes.

The 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition, which led the 18-day revolution against the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said "The Friday of Cleansing" protest will be held outside the Egyptian Radio and Television Union in Cairo to urge the government to repeal the ban on public protests and strikes, the Al-Masry Al-Youm daily reported on Thursday.

The Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday ordered a law criminalizing protests and strikes, according to which anyone inciting, organizing, promoting, or calling for a protest will be sentenced to jail or be fined for LE500,000 ($84,000).

The new law, which has not yet been approved by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is "a serious indicator of a political direction that will act as a barrier against any real democracy, which the people have the right to practice,” the movement said in a statement.

This is "an unacceptable and unjustified setback to the revolution's achievements, while at the same time, some of the labor protesters should have given the government a chance to meet their demands in light of the difficult economic situation now facing the country," the statement added.

The coalition also stated that protesters on Friday will demand the resignation of all officials loyal to the former regime and express their solidarity with assaulted students in Cairo University, who attempted to stage a sit-in on Wednesday to call for the resignation of the dean of the university.

On Sunday, Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favor of constitutional amendments in a historic referendum weeks after Mubarak handed over power to Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The military council has promised a swift transition to civilian rule, however, critics have taken a less sanguine view of the promise, saying that demonstrations will continue until all their demands are met.

They say all political prisoners must be released and an investigation launched into the conduct of officials responsible for the violence used against civilians.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171537.html.

UAE sends 12 planes to Libya war

Fri Mar 25, 2011

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has contributed 12 warplanes to the UN-backed no-fly zone over Libya, despite Arab League's opposition to military action on the North African country.

“We are deeply appreciative of their contribution," a US official said Thursday to AFP.

The Emirate's military support of the no-fly zone comes as Pro-Gaddafi forces have reportedly pushed revolutionaries out of oil port cities of Ras Lanuf and Brega, and re-capture a strategic road junction at Ajdabiya.

Pro-Gaddafi forces, having heavier armor and domination on air power as compared to the poorly armored opposition forces, have also reportedly gained control of Zawiya and Zuwara, west of the capital of Tripoli, and are mounting a strong offensive in Misrata.

International opposition to the US-led invasion continues to grow amid US Defense Secretary Robert Gates saying there is no timeline for the end of the assault on Libya.

The type of aircraft donated by the UAE is not known, although rumors say they are F-16 and Mirage aircraft.

The US-led war draws experts to speculate on the real motive behind the move into the oil-rich country, with analysts believing that Western allies are only after the North African country's vast oil reserves.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171542.html.

Egypt's MB urges army to end Gaza siege

Fri Mar 25, 2011

Major Egyptian political party, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), has demanded that the country's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces takes action in breaking the siege of Gaza.

The group hailed the Egyptian army's support for a peaceful popular revolution, urging the junta to recognize the desire of Egyptians for ending the siege of Gaza, according to a Thursday statement published by the organization's official English website, Ikhwanweb.

The opposition group also called on all Arabs to take a decisive stand against the siege that has been “suffocating the lives of the people in Gaza.”

Egypt's ousted regime under Hosni Mubarak served the interests of Israel by assisting and keeping silent on the killing of Gazans, the statement by the MB said.

Now that the Arab world is getting rid of their US-backed authoritarian regimes in recent popular revolutions, the time has come for Egypt's ruling government to help Arab brothers in Gaza, the group said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby has reportedly warned Israel against launching a military operation in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel has not allowed a cement convoy, sent by the International Egyptian Federation, to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt's Rafah border crossing, although the Egyptian organization had received a permit to travel to Gaza via Rafah border.

Israeli interests in Egypt seem to be at stake now that the current interim Egyptian government is obliged to more-or-less reflect the desires of its people.

A pipeline carrying natural gas from Egypt to Israel was exploded on February 5, just days before Mubarak's regime was overthrown. The resulting damage to Israel's economy has been estimated to be about 1.7 million dollars per day.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171551.html.

Religion-based parties banned in Egypt

Thu Mar 24, 2011

Egypt's ruling junta has approved a constitutional amendment which prevents the establishment of political parties based on religion and discrimination between citizens on grounds of origin, language or gender.

The amendment to Law 40 of 1977, which regulates the establishment of political parties, allows them to be founded by notification, reported the Egyptian Al-Masry Al-Youm on Wednesday.

A notification of establishment of a party that is signed by 1,000 founding members needs to be presented to the upper house of Egypt's parliament, Shura Council's Political Parties Affairs Committee (PAC).

The party can begin political activities provided that it receives no objection from PAC.

The new party's founders must then, at their own expense, publish their names in two broadly circulated daily newspapers within eight days of submitting the notification.

Under the new law, the establishment of political parties based on religious or geographical grounds, or discrimination between citizens on grounds of sex, origin, language, religion or creed is forbidden.

The new law also prohibits political parties with foreign affiliations from being founded, and it bans donations of any kind from foreign persons. It says parties can be self-funded through non-commercial activities under the condition that their main goal is to serve the principles of the party.

The regime of the ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak used to control the establishment of parties through PAC, which prevented parties from exercising political activities.

On February 11, Mubarak was forced to step down following nationwide protests that demanded an end to his longtime rule.

Around 300 people have reportedly lost their lives during the clashes with the Egyptian security forces, while many others have also been wounded as a result of the government's crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171431.html.

W African leaders meet on I. Coast

Wed Mar 23, 2011

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have gathered in Nigeria's capital Abuja to discuss issues including Ivory Coast's deadly political crisis.

12 of the 15 members of ECOWAS started a two-day summit in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for a firmer stance from the United Nations on the crisis in Ivory Coast, Reuters reported.

"I believe we can pass a resolution to request the United Nations to take little more serious steps in the Cote d'Ivoire situation," Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said.

Jonathan also warned the African leaders against “underestimating the threat” that insecurity in Ivory Coast could pose to the region.

ECOWAS had previously threatened to resort to force against the incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, who has defiantly refused to hand over presidency to his rival Alassane Ouattara, recognized by the UN and the African Union as the rightful winner of November elections.

Meanwhile, UN aid agencies are warning that the situation in Ivory Coast is becoming a forgotten catastrophe as the world focuses on Libya and Japan.

About 500,000 people have fled the violence in Ivory Coast. The UN says escalating tensions in the major city of Abidjan has forced a daily number of 10,000 to escape to safer areas.

A UN appeal for 32 million dollars to help Ivorians has received just 7 million dollars so far. Around 400 people have died since the disputed presidential poll.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171408.html.

Portuguese prime minister steps down

Thu Mar 24, 2011

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has stepped down after the parliament voted against the latest package of austerity measures offered by his minority government.

Socrates announced his resignation on Wednesday as EU members are expected to hold a key summit on the eurozone debt crisis on Thursday.

"The opposition removed from the government the conditions to govern. As a result I have presented my resignation to the president," he said after his meeting with President Anibal Cavaco Silva, AFP reported.

"Today every opposition party rejected the measures proposed by the government to prevent that Portugal resort to external aid," Socrates said during a televised address.

Socrates's ruling Socialist Party only has support of 97 lawmakers in the 230-seat parliament.

The main opposition center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) along with smaller parties on the left and right blocked new austerity plans which include further takes hikes and cuts to social spending.

The PSD believes the measures would hurt the poorest levels of society hardest.

"This crisis will have very serious consequences in terms of the confidence Portugal needs to enjoy with institutions and financial markets," Socrates said.

The political crisis in Portugal came as crisis-hit country needs hefty loans to pay off its nine billion euro ($12.9 billion) debt bill by a June 15 deadline.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171414.html.