On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 08:37:06 -0500, "NOYB" wrote:


"NOYB" wrote in message
...


Egypt's Mubarak Orders Election Changes

42 minutes ago

By MAAMOUN YOUSSEF, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday ordered a
revision of the country's election laws and said multiple candidates could
run in the nation's presidential elections, a scenario Mubarak hasn't faced
since taking power in 1981.

The surprise announcement, a response to critics' calls for political
reform, comes shortly after historic elections in Iraq and the Palestinian
territories, balloting that brought a taste of democracy to the region. It
also comes amid a sharp dispute with the United States over Egypt's arrest
of one of the strongest proponents of multi-candidate elections.


"The election of a president will be through direct, secret balloting,
giving the chance for political parties to run for the presidential
elections and providing guarantees that allow more than one candidate for
the people to choose among them with their own will," Mubarak said in an
address broadcast live on Egyptian television.


Mubarak - who has never faced an opponent since becoming president after the
1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat - said his initiative came "out of my full
conviction of the need to consolidate efforts for more freedom and
democracy."


The audience before him at Menoufia University broke into applause and calls
of support, some shouting, "Long live Mubarak, mentor of freedom and
democracy!" Others spontaneously recited verses of poetry praising the
government.


Mubarak said he asked parliament and the Shura Council to amend Article 76
of the constitution, which deals with presidential elections. Egyptian
television reported that the two bodies convened emergency sessions to begin
discussing an amendment.


He said the amendment would be put to a general public referendum before the
presidential polls, which are scheduled for September.


As recently as last month Mubarak had rejected opposition demands to open
presidential balloting to other candidates, and he was obviously aware of
the historic potential of his announcement.


"If it happens, it would be the first time in the political history of Egypt
that a chance is given to somebody who is capable of shouldering the
responsibility to protect the people's achievements and future security to
come forward for presidential elections with parliamentary and popular
support," he said.


Egypt holds presidential referendums every six years in which people vote
"yes" or "no" for a single candidate who has been approved by parliament.
Mubarak has been nominated by his ruling National Democratic Party to stand
in four presidential referendums, winning more than 90 percent of the vote
each time.


Mubarak has not officially announced his candidacy for a fifth term, though
he is widely expected to be nominated by his ruling party.


Several opposition leaders have demanded that Mubarak amend the constitution
to let more than one candidate compete for the presidency. In recent
meetings between opposition groups and the government, it was agreed that an
amendment would be discussed after September's presidential referendum,
making Mubarak's announcement even more surprising.


The move also comes amid a dispute between Egypt and the United States over
the recent detention of an opposition leader.


Ayman Nour, head of the Al-Ghad Party, was detained Jan. 29 on allegations
of forging nearly 2,000 signatures to secure a license for his party last
year. He has rejected the accusation, and human rights groups have said his
detention was politically motivated.


The prosecutor general has denied that charge.


His detention has been strongly criticized by Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice \, and Rice canceled a Mideast visit that had been planned for next
week, a decision believed to be in protest of Nour's detention.


Hafez Abu Saada, director of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights,
praised Mubarak's "unexpected step," which he said reflected local, regional
and international pressure.


"It is an important step that gives the Egyptian society a strong push for
more freedom and democracy," he said.

Activist Aida Seif el-Dawla was tentative in her praise.

"This concession is made to the United States of America. It is better for
him (Mubarak) if this decision came as a result of the national dialogue
with the opposition parties and in response to the protests against the
law," she said. "Let us wait and see, because a free campaign of more than
one candidate requires more than a statement from the president."


Heard about that on the radio this morning - great news.

Now, let's see, was it Clinton or Kerry that got this ball rolling?

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes