Egyptian Lawmakers Meet, Defying Military
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Date: 7/10/2012 7:45:02 AM
Sender: VOA
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Members of the riot police stand guard in front of the parliament building in Cairo, July 10, 2012.
Egypt＇s Islamist-led parliament has reconvened in defiance of orders by the country＇s military and Supreme Constitutional Court.
The lower house of parliament met Tuesday, days after newly elected President Mohamed Morsi issued a decree reinstating the body until a new one is elected, putting him on a collision course with Egypt＇s powerful generals.
Egypt＇s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took over the country following last year＇s ouster of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, dissolved the parliament last month after the country＇s high court found it to be unconstitutional based on procedural grounds.
During a five-minute session of parliament on Tuesday, the speaker of the lower house, Saad el-Katatni, said lawmakers met to review the court ruling and find a way to resolve the dispute, insisting that the house "respects the law and judicial rulings."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egyptian officials to work together to avoid derailing the country＇s transition. Speaking at a news conference in Vietnam, Clinton declined to take sides in the simmering dispute, instead calling for negotiations.
"We strongly urge dialogue and concerted effort on the part of all to try to deal with the problems that are understandable, but have to be resolved in order to avoid any kind of difficulties that could derail the transition," said Clinton.
President Morsi, who many expected to take a more conciliatory approach with the military, decreed Sunday that the legislature should reconvene until a new one has been elected.
His announcement, just one week after taking office, sent the SCAF into emergency mode. On Monday, the Supreme Constitutional Court stood firm, declaring that its ruling on dissolving parliament was final and binding.
The unexpected decision by Morsi was highly polarizing for Egyptians. Many were shocked that the president would violate the rulings of the same court from where he took the oath of office just days earlier. But Morsi＇s action was hailed by those who wish to see the military fully transfer power to civilian authorities.
Fahmy Howeidi, a columnist with the independent daily El-Shorouk, notes the timing of the president＇s decree, just days before his first overseas trip and before a visit to Cairo by Secretary Clinton.
"I think this decision could have been delayed, but why did he decide to declare or to decide about the parliament before his departure to Saudi [Arabia]? Is he sending a message saying he is the real ruler, not the military?" said Howeidi. "You know that Washington criticized the military for their latest statement [dissolving parliament], so was he encouraged by this criticism in order to embarrass the military?"
Clinton will travel to Egypt on July 14 to meet with President Morsi and other senior government officials along with leaders in civil society and business. The State Department says she will express U.S. support for Egypt＇s democratic transition and economic development. |
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