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Egypts Brotherhood calls for purge of old guard
 [Asharq al-Aswat] The Moslem Brüderbund, once banned and playing a growing role in the new Egypt, rejected a government reshuffle on Monday, calling for a purge of the old guard cabinet appointed by deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.In a bid to placate pro-democracy activists, the reshuffle late on Sunday named several Mubarak opponents but disappointed those eager for a new line-up as key defense, foreign, justice, interior and finance portfolios were left unchanged. Egypt's new military rulers, who took over after an 18-day uprising ended 30 years of Mubarak's iron rule, has said changes in the constitution for elections in six months should be ready soon and hated emergency laws would be lifted before the polls. But for many democracy advocates, who want a completely new cabinet with no links to Mubarak's corrupt and autocratic elite to govern the Arab world's most populous nation, the military needs to put fresh faces in office. "No one offered us any post and had they done so, we would have refused because we request what the public demands that this government quit as it is part of the former regime," said Essam El-Erian, a senior member of the Brotherhood, which is Egypt's most organized political group. "We want a new technocratic government that has no connection with the old era," he told Rooters. The Brotherhood, viewed with suspicion by Washington and which wants a democracy with Islamic principles, is represented on a constitutional change committee, a council to protect the revolution and will register as soon as new rules allow. Uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have spread like wildfire in the Arab world, threatening entrenched dynasties from Libya to Bahrain. The West has watched with alarm as long-time allies and foes came under threat, urging reform and restraint. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-22 |
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