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MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

Congress Moves to Condition Egypt’s Military Aid on Power Transfer to Civilians

By Mara Revkin

The U.S. Congress is seeking to impose restrictions on military aid to Egypt in the 2012 omnibus spending bill unveiled on December 16, news that may not be welcomed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which would prefer that its $1.3 billion dollar assistance package continue to flow freely without strings attached.

MENASource

Dec 18, 2011

Calls for Early Presidential Election on January 25

By Mara Revkin

Activists on Twitter and on the Khaled Said Facebook page are starting to call for early presidential elections by January 25, "or it’s gonna be bad," Mohamed Samir warned from Cairo. On December 18, the Khaled Said Facebook page suggested a radically shortened timeline for the presidential election, starting with polling on January 25, the […]

MENASource

Dec 18, 2011

Is Egypt Running Out of Tear Gas?

By Mara Revkin

Over the past two days, soldiers and military police have used almost everything within arm’s reach — fire hoses, batons, thrown rocks, furniture and glass projectiles — to break up crowds in Tahrir Squre and outside of the Council of Ministers Building.

MENASource

Dec 17, 2011

SCAF Denies Shooting, Offers Power Transfer by Referendum

By Mara Revkin

Field Marshal Field Marshal Tantawi has issued a "letter to the Egyptian people" expressing the SCAF’s increasingly defensive posture, but at the same time appearing to yield ground to protesters by offering to immediately hand over power "if the people demand it through a legislative referendum."

MENASource

Dec 17, 2011

Video: Military Police Attack Protesters in Tahrir

By Mara Revkin

Eyewitness reports and shocking video depict military personnel and plain-clothed thugs beating unarmed protesters and medics while attempting to clear Tahrir Square on December 17.

MENASource

Dec 16, 2011

Military Cracks Down on “Occupy Cabinet” Protest

By Tarek Radwan

Cairo has once again erupted in chaos in and around Tahrir as security forces under the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) sent troops to clear the "Occupy Cabinet" protests early Friday morning. Although the Egyptian Ministry of Health reports 99 wounded at the time of writing, activists in and around the cabinet building […]

MENASource

Dec 16, 2011

News Update: December 16, 2011

By Mara Revkin

At least 173 “Occupy Cabinet” protesters were injured and two more killed as they clashed violently with military police trying to disperse a sit-in outside of the Council of Ministers Building. After protesters refused to vacate Qasr al-Aini Street, security forces used force to break up the sit-in with rocks and fire houses.

MENASource

Dec 15, 2011

Food Poisoning Claims Reflect Continued Mistrust of the Military

By Mara Revkin

New accusations of deliberate food poisoning at an anti-government demonstration reflect continued mistrust of the military, which saw its approval rating plummet from 90 percent last July to 43 percent in late November, despite assurances by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that it will transfer power back to civilians after a presidential […]

MENASource

Dec 15, 2011

In Search of an Economic Vision: An Analysis of the Key Parties’ Platforms

By Hanaa Ebeid

Like most revolutions, Egypt’s uprising was fueled by economic grievances. Widespread frustration with several parallel phenomena — the authoritarian regime’s hijacking of the economy, state- sponsored corruption, mounting inequality, monopolism and cronyism — brought together diverse segments of society in shared discontent.

MENASource

Dec 15, 2011

News Update: December 15, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Most polling stations have closed after the second round of parliamentary elections. Final results are not expected until December 17 or 18, but the Freedom and Justice Party’s Secretary General, Saad al-Katatny, is already predicting that the party will retain its lead from the first round.