Egypt's army pledges elections in 6 months
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Egypt's military leadership on Sunday suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament dominated by the ruling party of former president Hosni Mubarak.
The Supreme Council of Egypt's armed forces on Sunday announced the suspension of the constitution and said it would "run the affairs of the country on a temporary basis for six months or until the end of parliamentary and presidential elections."
The council said in a communique that it will form a panel to amend the country's constitution before submitting the changes to a popular referendum.
It also announced the "dissolution of the lower and upper houses" of parliament formed after the elections in last November, when over 90 percent of the seats were garnered by the ruling National Democratic Party, a rare majority in any country's legislative body, and said it would continue to issue decrees during the transitional period.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government will remain in place for a six-month interim period until elections take place, and it reports to the military high command just like it had reported to President Mubarak before he stepped down.
The statement also confirmed the chairman of the supreme military council, Mubarak's Defence Minister Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, is now de facto head of state and represents Egypt on the international stage.
"The head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will represent the council domestically and internationally," it said, stressing its commitment to international agreements.
Also on Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said in a televised press conference that the main priority of his cabinet is to restore security in the country, after nearly three weeks of protests.
"The first priority of this government is to restore security and to facilitate daily life for its citizens," he said, adding "I guarantee that this cabinet will return rights to the people and fight the corruption."
Shafiq said on Sunday the Supreme Council of the armed forces is to determine the future and position of Mubarak-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman, according to state news agency MENA.
Shafiq said that Suleiman could hold a key post in the coming period but the issue needs to be decided by the armed forces.
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