Egypt's premier assures of secure elections

Egypt's premier assures of secure elections

Egypt's Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf, has on Thursday expressed his confidence in the ability of the police and the military to provide security for the forthcoming legislative elections.

Sharaf told reporters in Cairo, Egypt’s capital that there was no single reason to postpone the elections, which will be the first in Egypt since the January 25 toppling of the Hosni Mubarak regime.

Sharaf said “it is natural that citizens feel concerned about the possible postponement of the elections due to the relatively weak security conditions in the country.”

He also described such concerns as a positive sign and an indication of the confidence of voters that the elections would be fair and transparent.

The Military Council has set Novemebr 28 for the start of legislative elections in the country.

Constitutional review

The Lower and Upper Houses are to convene in March 2012 to elect a panel to write a new constitution within six months, to be followed by a referendum.

Presidential elections, according to the council's plans, are to be held not later than 60 days after the referendum. 

The time-frame put forward by the military council will make Egypt remain without an elected president until roughly the end of 2012, or early 2013.

Revolutionary forces want an elected president by the spring of 2012.

NAN/Adekusibe/Williams