Egypt's military rulers dissolve parliament
Leaders also suspend constitution; protesters holding firm in Tahrir Square
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
February 13, 2011
Egypt's cabinet, appointed when the 82-year-old president was still in office, would not undergo a major reshuffle and would stay to oversee the political transition to civilian rule in the coming months, a cabinet spokesman told Reuters. "The main task of this government is to restore security and order and also start the economic process, and to take care of day-to-day life," he said.
With Mubarak gone, Egypt's future will likely be shaped by three powers: the military, the protesters, and
the sprawling autocratic infrastructure of Mubarak's regime that remains in place, dominating the bureaucracy, the police, state media and parts of the economy. Right now, the protesters' intentions are the clearest of the bunch.
The coalition behind the protests issued their first cohesive list of demands for handling the transition to democracy. Their focus was on ensuring they — not just the military or members of Mubarak's regime — have a seat at the table in deliberations shaping the future.
Among their demands: lifting of emergency law; creation of a presidential council, made up of a military representative and two "trusted personalities"; the dissolving of the ruling party-dominated parliament; and the forming of a broad-based unity government and a committee to either amend or rewrite completely the constitution. The council of generals has said nothing so far about how the transition will be carried out or addressed the protesters' demands.
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