Egypt to hold parliament election on Nov 21: Report

The state-run Middle East News Agency quoted an unnamed source as saying on Saturday that election to the lower house of parliament will start on November 21 in three phases,each lasting for 15 days.

Meanwhile,the election to Shura Council,the Upper House of parliament,are proposed to be held on February 22,according to the news agency.

The military rulers have not fixed any date for the presidential poll,which the SCAF has said was to follow the parliamentary vote.

There is growing frustration in the country that the military council was dragging its feet on political reforms and elections to bring about genuine transition to democracy.

A member of the SCAF today met with heads of political parties and movement in Egypt to discuss the laws for the elections.

The SCAF had issued a law stating that half of the parliamentary seats will be offered to independent candidates while the other half will be contested on party lines.

This arrangement has been opposed by people who fear the members of the former ruling party may seek a backdoor to enter parliament by fielding themselves as independent candidates.

The trial of 83-year-old toppled president,who has been accused of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters during the 18 days uprising,has entered a crucial stage.

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi,the leader of the governing military council and Mubarak’s former defence minister,is expected to testify at a closed session of the trial on September 24,when he will be asked to shed light on Mubarak’s role in the crackdown on protesters that left more than 800 dead in the final days of his 29-year-rule.

Zohair Garana,a Mubarak-era cabinet minister,was today sentenced to three years in prison for corruption by an Egyptian criminal court here,becoming the latest senior member of the former regime to be convicted for graft.