No foreign supervision in polls

2005-06-06 21:22

Cairo - Egypt's foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said he has ruled out international supervision of September's presidential election despite United States (US) pressure.

"The Egyptian government will, at an opportune time, announce its view on foreign supervision which will make clear Egypt's internal consensus," Abul Gheit was quoted as saying by the Egyptian news agency Mena.

But he added: "No one in Egypt will accept such a foreign supervision."

The minister was addressing parliament's foreign and Arab relations committee late on Sunday.

US President George W Bush has urged Cairo several times to organise free and democratic elections in the presence of international observers.

Bush also condemned violent incidents which accompanied a referendum on May 25 in Egypt, which approved the holding of contested presidential elections for the first time in the country's history.

Those opposing the constitutional amendment said it did not go far enough and restrictions would effectively prevent any independent candidate from standing. They called for a boycott of the poll.

During rallies against the referendum, activists and journalists were attacked and women were sexually assaulted by supporters of the ruling National Democratic Party.

- AFP