Egyptian intellectuals, politicians call for political reforms

Some 300 Egyptian intellectuals, politicians and artists representing all political trends in Egypt signed a statement for the nation calling for ending authority monopoly in Egypt and cancellation of the state of emergency and electing a president for the Republic and his deputy from people, directly and for a period of not more than two terms.

In the statement which was issued and circulated yesterday, the intellectuals, the politicians and the artists called for making parliamentary elections under the supervision of the higher judiciary council and the nation's council.

They also stressed the need of abrogating special law and lifting control imposed on trade unions and for the freedom of forming parties and issuing papers and establishing civil society associations.

Among signatories of the statement of political trends were Naserite, Communists, Muslim Brothers and founders of al-Wasat and al-Karamah parties, independents for political trends and representatives for human rights organizations and lawyers.

Among names which signed the statement were Abdul Wahab al-Meseiri, Ismael Sabri, Abdullah and Osama Okasha, Abdul Menem Abu Fotouh; Abu al-Ola Madi; Jalal Aref; George Ishaq; Jamal Abdul Mallak, Muhammad Salim al-Awwa; Youssef Shahine; Yousef al-Qeid, Fahemi Hweidi, the two known artists Farouk al-Fishawi and Ali Baderkhan and many others.

Worthy mentioning that this statement came hours after the new Egyptian government took its constitutional oath before President Mubarak at the headquarters of the Egyptian Presidency in Cairo.