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Egyptian protestors continue rally for reforms

22 July 2011 19:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Hundreds of Egyptians continued their rally on Friday in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square to protest against the latest government reshuffle and urge other reforms, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Since July 8, the protestors have continued their sit-in in Tahrir Square, despite the latest government reshuffle announced on Thursday with 14 new ministers. Some protesters considered the reshuffle useless.

"The cabinet reshuffle doesn’t bring anything new for Egyptians, especially that the Minister of Interior keeps his post," Mohamed Atteia, one of the protestors, told Xinhua.

The dismissal of the interior minister has been one of the demands of youth groups.

Others said they were against the Parliament Law issued on Wednesday by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

"Why don’t the supreme council hold meetings with the political forces before issuing new laws. He exactly acts like former Mubarak’s regime," said Ramy Swissy, spokesperson for the April 6 youth movement, a group of youth activists which played a major role in organizing the mass protests in February which toppled Hosni Mubarak.

Some protestors demanded Mubarak be swiftly transferred from the Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital to the Tora prison hospital in Cairo.

Egypt’s new ministers took the oath of office in front of Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on Thursday.

Tantawi asked the new cabinet to do its best to regain security and stability in Egyptian streets and confront any attempts aimed at harming the national interest.

He urged the government to work on setting an appropriate stage for elections and establishing a new constitution to fulfill the demands and goals of the revolution.

In a televised speech late on Thursday, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said: "Our first objective is to achieve the revolution’s goals and preserve its gains."

He stressed the government will make it a top priority to improve security situation.

The prime minister also pledged to guarantee the minimum wages, maintain justice in the trials, achieve democratic transition and pave the way for integral and free elections. These have been among the major demands of protestors.

According to the parliamentary laws, preparations will start in September and the polls will follow within 30 days. The People’s Assembly and the Shoura Council vote will take place at the same time. But this laws draw harsh criticism from a number of political parties.