Elections will be 'fraudulent'

2005-05-17 15:14

Cairo - The banned Muslim Brotherhood group said on Tuesday it would boycott the upcoming referendum on a controversial constitutional amendment that sets rules for the year-end presidential elections.

Brotherhood leader Mohammed Mahdi Akef said his movement made the decision to fall in line with the country's other opposition groups and will call upon the people to boycott it as well.

His deputy Mohammed Habib said the amendment set tough conditions to "deprive independents from running the presidential elections in a free and a fair contest, in the face of the ruling party candidate".

The amendment to Article 76 of the constitution stipulates independents must get 250 recommendations from elected members of the lower and upper houses of parliament and city councils, all of which are dominated by Mubarak's party, before they are cleared to enter the race.

Opposition members say it is virtually impossible to attain so many recommendations.

The Brotherhood's only chance to run in the elections would be through nominating independent candidates.

Brotherhood not aiming to overthrow president

On Sunday, Akef said his group wasn't trying to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak with its street protests, but may back a candidate to run against him in upcoming elections.

"If we find somebody who is good for this election and has an honourable history, we will give him our votes," said Akef, whose movement seeks an Islamic government.

The Brotherhood commands a substantial following in Egypt and is among the best-organised movements in the conservative country. It alone among Mubarak's opponents could prove a tough challenger.

Akef's deputy Habib said under the emergency laws — imposed on the country since former president Anwar Sadat assassination in 1981 — and without an independent electoral judiciary commission to supervise the one-day presidential elections, there was a strong indication that the "elections will be fraud."(sic)

Other major political parties were expected to meet later on Tuesday to formally declare their own boycotts of the referendum.

Mubarak, who has been president for 24 years, surprised the nation earlier this year by saying he would allow opponents to run in the next election. Previously, Mubarak was repeatedly re-elected in yes-no referendums in which he was the only candidate.

- AP