Nawal al-Sadawi nominates herself for presidential elections in Egypt

The secretary general of the ruling national party in Egypt, Safwat al-Sharif, yesterday announced the beginning of preparations for the elections of the republic's president and the People's assembly for 1005.

The Middle East news Agency MENA said that al-Sharif announcement came during the plenary session held yesterday by the organization's secretariat chaired by the assistant secretary general Kamal al-Chazli. It was attended by the organization's secretaries in the Egyptian governorates. Al-Sharif indicated the need of investing convening party conferences for the party membership which toll more than 7,000 in the course of preparation for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Meantime, Egyptian activists announced yesterday they have started a campaign for amending the constitution so as more than one candidate for the presidency will be available.

However, the Egyptian constitution states that the People's Assembly (parliament) will choose one candidate for the presidency at a proposal of one third of its members, a least, and the approval of two thirds, at least, and then the candidate will be presented in a general referendum. Mubarak's term of office, which is his fourth expires on October 1st.

Meantime, the Egyptian writer and psychologist Nawal Sadawi yesterday announced nominating herself for the post of the president. She said "I will nominate myself for the presidential elections not to win but to make the Egyptian people move and to move towards amending the constitution and fighting corruption and the American colonialism." She said "we do hope to change the educational system and in the laws so as to be fair, including the civil status law." Nawal al-Sadwai also calls for separating the religion from the state " religion is for the God and the homeland is for all."