Egypt's post-Mubarak parliament convenes

By Nehal El-Sherif Jan 23, 2012, 17:34 GMT

Cairo - Egypt's newly-elected parliament, in which Islamists hold two-third of the seats, held its inaugural session on Monday, two days before the first anniversary of the January 25 revolution that ousted president Hosny Mubarak.

The composition of the parliament, which is seen as a first step towards democratic rule in the country, reflects the fact that Islamist parties have become the strongest political force in Egypt after years of suppression under Mubarak.

The Freedom and Justice Party won the largest number of seats, with 47 per cent, followed by the hardline Salafist party Al-Nour.

The prime task of the lower house of parliament, or the People's Assembly, will be to pick a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution.

Saad al-Katatni of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party was elected as Parliament Speaker, with 399 votes.

Essam Sultan, of the moderate Islamist al-Wasat Party, came second with just 87 votes.

'We announce to the Egyptian people and the whole world that our revolution continues,' al-Katatni told the assembly after he was elected.

'We will not rest until there is retribution for the martyrs by fair, rapid trials and rebuild Egypt,' he said.

Al-Katani, a university professor and political pragmatist, was the Secretary-General for the Freedom and Justice Party. He promised to resign from his post in the party after becoming speaker.

From 2005 to 2010, al-Katatni served as the head of the Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc when brotherhood members, running as independents under Mubarak, won a fifth of parliamentary seats.

The session took place as Mubarak's defence lawyers continued to expose their closing arguments in the trial, in which the ousted leader and other co-defendants are accused of involvement in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the January 25 revolution.

The parliament's session was marred by heated disputes between its members. Arguments began as soon as some members refused to stick to the wording of the official oath.

Mamdouh Ismail, member of the Salafist al-Asala Party, added 'as long as it does not violate the law of God' while he was being sworn in. Another lawmaker vowed to fulfill the revolutionary demands and defend the 'blood of the martyrs.'

A heated argument later erupted as some candidates wanted to give a short speech to introduce themselves ahead of the vote for the post of Parliament Speaker.

Several members were wearing yellow scarves around their necks with the slogan 'No to military trials for civilians,' in a protest against the ruling military council, which has tried more than 12,000 people in military courts since Mubarak's ouster.

Tight security was imposed around the parliament building, which is located near Tahrir Square, the epicentre of protests that forced Mubarak out of power.

Thousands of protesters marched on the parliament building, demonstrating against the military trials of civilians and the military rulers.

Others were calling for the release of all political prisoners, defending the creative freedoms and preserving the freedom of the press, film director and activist Khaled Youssef told dpa.

They were chanting 'Creativity, freedom and social justice,' activists said.

Elections for the 498-seat assembly began in November and ended in January. Military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi appointed 10 more members, raising the total to 508.

Elections for the less powerful Shura Council, or upper house of parliament, are to be held in two stages, with voting taking place between January 29 and February 22.

The military council will hand over power to a civil administration after presidential elections scheduled for June.