Egypt's generals reject calls for civilian cabinet

Cairo, Feb 11(ANI): Egypt's ruling generals have rebuffed calls to allow the elected Parliament to appoint a civilian cabinet.

The military also said that Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri would remain in his post until the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) hands over power to a civilian president by the end of June, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The protests followed a call by a leading deputy in the Muslim Brotherhood for the newly elected Parliament to form a new cabinet to replace the military-appointed ministers.

Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Chairman Khairat al-Shater demanded that Parliament appoint a coalition government to replace the one led by Ganzouri.

"We must start the formation of a coalition government immediately, to deal in particular with the economic situation and the state of lawlessness in this homeland," he said.

The offer to form a coalition government was a nod toward sharing power amid accusations that Brotherhood politicians already dominate parliamentary committees.

Cairo-based human-rights organization worker Karim Medhat Ennarah said a parliament-appointed government would fall short of a true handover of power to civilians because the SCAF would still hold the reins of executive authority in a system that privileges presidential power

"I think if SCAF is there, they will still be involved in a way that is going to be detrimental to any kind of political process," he said. "I don't trust SCAF being in the picture at all," he added. (ANI)