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| Africa North |
| Egypt refuses international election monitors |
| 2011-07-22 |
| [Emirates 24/7] Egypt's council of military rulers will not allow international monitors to observe upcoming parliamentary elections designed to move the country back toward civilian rule, a council member said. The decision, which is part of a new election law approved by the country's ruling generals, was swiftly criticized by activists who said it raises questions about the transparency of the first elections after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak ...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011... and urged the military to reconsider. Maj. Gen. Mamdouh Shaheen, who presented the new law to news hounds Wednesday, said barring foreign monitors was a necessary step to protect Egypt's illusory sovereignty. "We have nothing to hide," he said, adding that "we reject anything that affects our illusory sovereignty." Egyptian election monitors will observe the process instead, he said. Hafez Abou Saada, a member of the National Council for Human Rights, said promises of free and fair elections from the military are not enough, and noted that denying international monitors mirrors the line adopted by Mubarak's regime. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Can't blame them, when it means former president Jimmy Carter swanning around. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-07-22 12:38 |
| #1 Surprise meter? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-07-22 02:48 |