Egyptian parliament slams government for complacency

The army deployed troops in central Cairo to quell the clashes Egypt's military rulers vowed Thursday that this month's presidential election will be fair and moved to assure the public it would hand over power, a day after a deadly attack on an anti-military protest.

"We are committed to fair elections 100 percent. We don't have any candidates. All the candidates are respectable Egyptians," said Major General Mohammed al-Assar of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Assar said that the electoral commission "sent a letter to the foreign ministry requesting that it invites 45 foreign observers to monitor the presidential election."
Assar was speaking at a news conference as calm returned to Cairo's streets following clashes that killed 20 people outside the defence ministry on Wednesday, according to medics.Unidentified attackers assaulted Wednesday dawn protesters who were camping outside the ministry headquarters.
Army soldiers and Central Security Forces arrived at Abbassiya, central Cairo, early Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to end the clashes between the assailants and protesters who were calling for the dismissal of chapter 28 of the constitutional declaration and the ruling military council hand over authority to a civil administration. Both sides were hurling petrol bombs and rocks, according to official reports.
"We want to stress the commitment of the armed forces... of not using violence against the people. The armed forces belong to the people," said Assar, who put Wednesday's toll at nine dead and said more than 160 were injured.
The general, an aide to the defence minister, said the security forces had intervened "positively" to stop the bloodshed and to ensure stability, more than a year after a popular uprising toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak.
"Egypt is in danger... Everyone must realise this danger," said Assar.
"I propose an initiative to all political parties and religious leaders to go to Abbassiya and try to persuade the youths to leave Abbassiya," he said referring to the Cairo district in which Wednesday's clashes occurred.
"Go to Tahrir Square... to stay away from the defence ministry because we don't want to use any violence against our youths," he added.
Cairo's Tahrir Square was the epicentre of the massive protest movement that eventually forced Mubarak to hand over power to the military, led by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi.
Assar said the military would transfer power by the end of June.
The presidential election is scheduled for May 23 and 24 and a run off for June 16 and 17 if there is no outright winner in the first round.
"We have said and repeated since November 2011 that the Supreme Council is committed to handing over power before June 30, 2012. And today we say it again clearly and frankly: the SCAF is committed to handing over power by June 30, 2012 and even before," said Assar.
"We have no wish to stay in power. We do not want power. The supreme council is not an alternative to legitimacy," he added.
Critics of the military rulers cried foul after the electoral commission disqualified 10 of the 23 candidates vying for the presidential race, saying they did not meet the proper criteria.
Assar stressed that the SCAF, under whose rule parliamentary elections took place late last year and early this year, were not tampering with the polls.
He also urged the armed forces to remain steadfast urging them "not to listen" to abuse expressed by their detractors.
"The people appreciate your historic positions," Assar said.
"After July 1, it will be said that the SCAF played a historic role" in the transition of Egypt from Mubarak's autocratic regime to democracy, he added.
 The Egyptian parliament on Wednesday night issued a statement accusing SCAF-appointed interim prime minister Kamal Ganzouri's government of being complacent in protecting the public and their right to peaceful protest. The statement also urged the ruling military council "to act seriously in order to stop clashes in Abassiya and apprehend those responsible".
"The parliament fears these events may be intended to obstruct the path to democracy, by preventing presidential elections so they can't be held on time,  as well as hindering the formation of the constituent assembly," added the statement.
A number of demonstrators reportedly arrived at the sit-in area to support the protesters after the clashes had stopped.
Hundreds of protesters set off from Fath mosque in central Cairo towards Abbassiya, chanting "martyrs, in the millions, we are heading to the council."
Meanwhile, campaigning for Egypt's first post-uprising presidential poll was temporarily on hold in response to the latest violence.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi told reporters he decided to stop campaigning for 48 hours "in solidarity with the protesters." The SCAF, as the ruling authority, was "the first to be responsible," he said.
His main Islamist rival, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, cancelled all activity for the day, while leftist candidates Khaled Ali and Hamdeen Sabbahi also announced they were suspending their campaigns.
Amr Moussa, a former Arab League chief and now a frontrunner in the race, said Wednesday's violence was "proof of the need to put an end to the transitional period according to the timetable, without delay."
Leading dissident Mohamed El Baradei, the former UN nuclear watchdog chief, denounced what he termed the "massacre" outside the defence ministry.
"SCAF & Government unable to protect civilians or in cahoots with thugs. Egypt going down the drain," he posted on Twitter.