Archive for Amr Moussa

Accusations against ElBaradei, Sabbahi and Moussa dropped

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December 29th, 2012

Al-Asqalani, who had filed a report accusing Constitution Party head Mohamed ElBaradei, Popular Current head Hamdeen Sabbahi and former presidential candidate Amr Moussa of attempting to overthrow the regime, has withdrawn his complaint.

Asqalani, a member of the Freedoms Committee at the Lawyers Syndicate, said that he had filed the complaint at the time of the Ettehadeya Presidential Palace clashes that saw several people killed.

He said it was a dark time when Egyptian blood was being shed, and suggested that “everything that has happened may be part of a conspiracy against the country.” ‫

The plaintiff stressed that he respects all national forces who seek to uphold the principles of democracy, as he respects President Mohamed Morsy who himself recognizes the opposition and freedom of opinion.

There are four reasons Asqalani withdrew his complaint against the leading members of the National Salvation Front, Asqalani explained, pointing first to freedom of opinion and expression. Secondly, he said, the opposition had played a role in toppling the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak, and thirdly, that they had helped make President Mohamed Morsy the first legitimate president elected in Egypt's ancient and modern history. Finally, Asqalani said, the opposition represent a safety valve to activate democracy in the new Egypt.

Edited translation from MENA

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National Salvation Front: Brotherhood is terrorizing opposition

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December 28th, 2012

Hussein Abdel Ghany, the media spokesperson for the National Salvation Front, accused the Muslim Brotherhood of resorting to Mubarak-era tactics to discredit the opposition.

Front leaders Mohamed ElBaradei, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Amr Moussa are under investigation on charges of treason as per the instructions of the Brotherhood’s guidance bureau, Abdel Ghany said, claiming that this indicated a narrow understanding of democracy.

“Repeated attempts to discredit the opposition is a Mubarak-style method to terrorize political opponents,” he told Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Such charges won’t terrorize the opposition or stop them from peacefully fighting against the Brotherhood dictatorship and tyranny under the name of religion, Abdel Ghany continued.

"I say to the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood: Do not follow the same methods of the former regime … The Salvation Front will support peaceful protests and will not back down on battles against tyranny," he said.

Prosecutor General Talaat Abdallah agreed to assign a judge to investigate allegations of treason levied against the members of the front.

Al-Sayed Hamed, a member of the executive bureau of the Lawyers Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee, filed the charges along with his colleague, Nasser al-Asqalany.

The National Salvation Front is a coalition of 15 liberal parties opposed to the recently instated Constitution. Its members claim the constitutional referendum was rigged. Prior to the referendum, the front led demonstrations against the Constitution in front of the presidential palace. At least 10 died in the course of clashes with supporters of President Mohamed Morsy.

Hamed is also bringing charges of treason against former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan, Judges Club head Ahmed al-Zend and Supreme Constitutional Court Vice President Tahani al-Gebali.

Filing criminal charges against opposition figures was a common practice during former President Hosni Mubarak’s era.

Ghad al-Thawra Party leader Ayman Nour was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2005 for allegedly forging signatures to enable him to register the Ghad Party. The party had been approved in 2004. Nour was released from prison in February 2009.

Nour finished second after Mubarak in the presidential election in September 2005. Some observers argued that the case was punishment for his unexpected bid for presidency.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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ElBaradei, Sabbahi, Moussa investigated for treason

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December 27th, 2012

Prosecutor General Talaat Abdallah agreed to assign a judge to investigate allegations of treason levied against Constitution Party leader Mohamed ElBaradei and former presidential candidates Amr Moussa and Hamdeen Sabbahi.

Al-Sayed Hamed, a member of the executive bureau of the Lawyers Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee, filed the charges along with his colleague, Nasser al-Asqalany.

ElBaradei, Moussa and Sabbahi lead the National Salvation Front, a coalition of 15 liberal parties opposed to the recently instated Constitution. They claim the constitutional referendum was rigged.

Prior to the referendum, the front led demonstrations against the Constitution in front of the presidential palace. At least ten died in the course of clashes with supporters of President Mohamed Morsy.

Hamed is also bringing charges of treason against former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan, Judges Club head Ahmed al-Zend and Supreme Constitutional Court Vice President Tahani al-Gebali.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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‘Yes’ vote on constitution achieved by rigging, says opposition

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December 23rd, 2012

The opposition National Salvation Front blamed the apparent approval of the draft constitution on “rigging, violations and shortcomings in organization.”

Official results of the referendum are expected to be released on Monday, with early results indicating that the constitution was approved by 64 percent of voters, with only 32 percent of eligible voters participating in the poll.

The front, composed of several liberal parties, was formed in November to counter Islamist movements which had come to dominate the government and the Constituent Assembly. The NSF includes a number of liberal and secular leaders, including former presidential hopefuls Hamdeen Sabbahi and Amr Moussa, and reformer Mohamed ElBaradei.

The opposition group had urged citizens to vote against the constitution draft in the two-day referendum, held on 15 and 22 December.

During the first day of voting on 15 December, the NSF alleged that violations and fraud were taking place. 


In a statement on Sunday, the group listed inadequate judicial supervision, delays in opening polling stations, polling stations closing before their schedule times, and workers in stations advising voters to cast a “yes” ballot among the violations that have been submitted to the Public Prosecution and High Judicial Elections Commission for investigation.

The NSF added that the Egyptian people did not respond to a misleading campaign implying that the referendum was a vote for or against Islamic Sharia, and stressed that it would continue to work for the interests and rights of Egyptians.
 

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Moussa warns Morsy administration against continuing referendum

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December 18th, 2012

Former presidential candidate and Egyptian National Congress Party head Amr Moussa threatened a harsh reaction if the government insists on implementing measures harmful to Egypt, such as the draft constitution that is currently under referendum.

Moussa issued the statement on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening.

Political forces organized anti-referendum marches to the presidential palace and Tahrir Square today. Leading those forces was the National Salvation Front, a group of secular forces led by Moussa, former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi and Constitution Party leader Mohamed ElBaradei.

They demand the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly and the formation of a new body to draft a more representative constitution based on national consensus.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Constituent Assembly calls for dialogue with opposition figures

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December 18th, 2012

The Constituent Assembly has invited four leading opposition figures to discuss the controversial draft constitution in an open session on Friday at 2:30 pm, hours before the second round of voting begins in the constitutional referendum on Saturday.

Constitution Party head Mohamed ElBaradei, Popular current leader Hamdeen Sabbahi, Wafd Party leader Al-Sayed al-Badawy and Conference Party head Amr Moussa were each invited to voice their opinions on the draft.

“As the Constituent Assembly is keen on relaying to the Egyptian people all different views and perspectives in complete transparency for them to decide what they deem best for the country, it invites you and the leaders of the national forces to present the objections to the draft constitution in a public dialogue,” the invitation said.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Shura Council.

The opposition has criticized the draft constitution for failing to preserve basic freedoms, promote social justice or inclusively represent Egyptian society. They argue it was authored by an Islamist-dominated body that does not reflect the diversity and the needs of the Egyptian people.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Moussa demands postponing referendum by two months

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December 11th, 2012

Congress Party head Amr Moussa called for the postponement of the constitution referendum by two months, reaffirming his commitment to the position of the National Salvation Front, to cancel or postpone the referendum.

State-run news agency MENA quoted Moussa as saying, “postponing the referendum for two months will solve many problems, since it will allow for the reconsideration of the articles in the draft that are still points of contention. It will also allow time for different social actors to study and submit proposals."

Moussa explained that the draft constitution includes, “articles that are open to multiple interpretation with regard to freedoms, the state obligations toward its citizens with the right not to be discriminated against among them."

"All these questions need to be reviewed and therefore we need time,” he said.

Moussa noted that should the referendum go ahead as scheduled, on the condition of the agreement of the judiciary to supervise it, he will call on citizens to vote rejecting the draft constitution.

The National Salvation Front said in a statement Tuesday that it would announce its final position on the constitutional referendum in a press conference Wednesday morning.

Edited translation from MENA

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Sabbahi: Morsy’s legal legitimacy only removed through vote

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December 11th, 2012

Popular Current leader Hamdeen Sabbahi said although President Mohamed Morsy loses his legitimacy, his legal legitimacy cannot be lost without a vote.

He denied calling for presidential elections earlier than scheduled.

Sabbahi told the television program Hona al-Qahera on Monday that he is disappointed about the way the country is being run, and that President Mohamed Morsy favors the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood rather than those of the country.

Sabbahi, along with co-founder of the Constitution Party Mohamed ElBaradei and Conference Party head Amr Moussa, leads the National Salvation Front, an alliance of civil forces calling on Morsy to cancel the constitutional referendum and form a new constituent assembly to write a consensus constitution.

The front leaders had earlier said that Morsy started to lose his legitimacy after issuing a constitutional declaration on 22 November, which made his decisions unchallengeable.

“No one wants to exclude the Brotherhood. People reject wrong decisions, not the Brotherhood,” he said.


“There should be national consensus. Democracy doesn’t mean [subduing] the minority,” Sabbahi said referring to a potential popular explosion due to the Brotherhood’s “arrogance.”

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ElBaradei appointed general coordinator of opposition group, threatens nationwide protests

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December 5th, 2012

Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, in his new position as general coordinator of the National Salvation Front, threatened nationwide protests until President Mohamed Morsy responds to calls for national dialogue over the new constitutional and the most recent constitutional declaration.

The leader of the popular current Hamden Sabbahi announced Tuesday night that front decided to appoint Mohamed ElBaradei as the general coordinator for the front.

ElBaradei’s warning came at a press conference Tuesday night attended by the leaders of the National Salvation Front; Hamden Sabbahi, and Amr Moussa.

The National Salvation Front is a coalition of political powers opposing Morsy’s 22 November constitutional declaration, which gave him the ability to override judicial decisions. The front brings together Mohamed ElBaradei of the Constitution Party, Hamdeen Sabbahi of the Popular Current Party, Amr Moussa of the Conference Party, Al-Sayed al-Badawy of the Wafd Party, and other political figures.

ElBaradei held Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood group responsible for the violent clashes at the presidential palace in Heliopolis between pro and anti-Morsy protesters.

“Egyptians will protests in every place, and use all legitimate measures, and won't back down from this battle we began for freedom,” ElBaradei said.

The National Salvation Front met Wednesday evening to discuss the proposals of Vice President Ahmed Mekky that he raised in a press conference earlier the same day.

Ahram Online said the front would also discuss ways to step up protests after President Mohamed Morsy ignored their demands to dissolve the Constituent Assembly and the Constitutional Declaration.

The State-owned Nile News channel said that the meeting, which is currently being held, is addressing the clashes at the presidential palace. The channel speculated the meeting would end with a decision about  the current situation.

Mekky had earlier said the Constitutional Declaration would not be cancelled, and appealed to all political forces to participate in the referendum and hold a dialogue on the controversial articles of the new constitution.

The front said in a statement last night that it is giving the president until Friday to meet the demands, otherwise the civil forces would declare him illegitimate.

The statement said the mass demonstrations nationwide are proof that the president would not be able to divide Egyptian society.

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Update: Clashes erupt between Morsy’s supporters, opponents outside palace

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December 5th, 2012

Clashes have erupted between anti-Morsy protesters and Islamists in front of the presidential palace, privately-owned TV channel Al-Nahar has reported.

The TV channel, in live reports from the scene, said that Morsy supporters boxed opposition protesters in from two sides, leading to scuffles.

The clashes come after both the Popular Current, led by former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi, and the Muslim Brotherhood called for rival demonstrations outside the presidential palace Wednesday, raising the specter of clashes between both sides.

FormerThe Brotherhood's earlier call for protests, with anti-Morsy protesters already staging a sit-in outside the palace, drew condemnations and warnings from opposing political parties.

Former presidential candidate Amr Moussa, who is also chairman of the Egyptian NationalEgyptian National Congress Party, denounced the Brotherhood’s call for protests.

“Clashes with other protesters over differences in opinion will further heat up the situation,” Moussa tweeted on Wednesday.

The ConstitutionParty also warned of "dire consequences" for what it described asassaults on peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square and outside the palace.

"We are warning of dire consequences for mounting calls by figures affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamist current,” the party said in a statement, which claimed that the president’s supporters had called for massive protests “and even jihad.”

In a statement posted on the group's Facebook page, Brotherhood Spokesperson Mahmoud Ghozlan said that the calls for demonstrations were meant to "protect the legitimacy after the brute infringements conducted on Tuesday by a group that thought they could shake legitimacy or impose their opinion by force."

Dozens of anti-Mohamed Morsy protesters are staging a sit-in outside the presidential palace in Heliopolis after thousands-strong marches to the palace Tuesday night in protest of the president's rush to put the constitution up for a vote, as well as his constitutional declaration last month granting him broad powers.

Earlier on Tuesday, the website of state-run Al-Ahram newspaper quoted a Jama'a al-Islamiya source as saying that various Islamist factions will gather at the palace to support Morsy. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, the Salafi-oriented Nour Party and Jama'a al-Islamiya’s Construction and Development Party are among the groups that will participate, according to Al-Ahram.

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