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| Africa North |
| Calls for dialogue within Egypt govt grow weaker amid strong opposition |
| 2013-10-30 |
| [Al Ahram] The state and the Prime Minister have made it a "priority" to fix Egypt's security situation, which means "controlling the Moslem Brüderbund and limiting their capacities," a source in PM Hazem El-Beblawi's cabinet told Ahram Online. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source added, this "does not mean the government wants to exclude anyone, but rather that security is a priority of the people." The official's remarks highlight the bottom-line of El-Beblawi's cabinet, which has faced months of unease in the wake of former president Mohammed Morsi ...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the One Man, One Vote, One Timeprinciple, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator... 's ouster in July. The current cabinet includes leftovers from former prime minister Hisham Qandil's administration, such as Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, as well as new liberal faces such as Deputy Prime Minister Ziyad Baheddine. Ibrahim, who is leading a "war" to marginalise all those calling for state dialogue with the Islamist camp, stands in stark contrast to Baheddine, who has faced "tough resistance," since his national reconciliation initiative in August, according to a cabinet member. Government sources say that almost four months later, the "dialogue camp" has dwindled amid clear intimidation. "There were about seven ministers in that camp, and the rest were supporting Mohammed Ibrahim, or at least not against him. Today, it is only Ziyad Baheddine and [finance minister] Ahmed Galal, with occasional indirect support from the Foreign Affairs Minister [Nabil Fahmy] on matters concerning international opinion," said one source. Widespread dislike for the Moslem Brüderbund and their Islamist allies, still apparent four months after Morsi's ouster, has allowed the 'Mohammed Ibrahim camp' to gain strength, the source added. An Interior Ministry official said, "The use of force by police against the gunnies is well supported by the public, who are desperate for a return to security and are not opposed to putting all Moslem Brüderbund members in jail." The source credited "the vital role of the media" for this "overwhelming sentiment," insisting that the mistakes of the Brotherhood during their year in power have "made people see the reality of this group." During several cabinet confrontations, especially following the resignation of interim vice president Mohammed ElBaradei over the violent dispersal of two Islamist camps, Ibrahim made direct attacks on those who urge restraint, emphasising that they are not facing the reality of coppers on the ground. More recently, Beblawi sided openly with Ibrahim over a draft demonstrations law, whilst trying privately to accommodate Baheddine and Galal. Sources close to Baheddine and Galal say that the two men feel truly isolated, but are still hopeful, as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi have not vetoed opposition to the draft protest law and equally controversial anti-terrorism bill, which have been labelled catastrophic by human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. groups. |
| Posted by:Fred |