国际英语新闻:Egypt's military council dissolves parliament, suspends constitution
CAIRO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Council of Egypt's armed forces said in communique No. 5 on Sunday that they will suspend the constitution, dissolve the parliament, and form a committee to draft a new constitution for the country.
Egypt's new military leadership said it will form a panel to amend the country's constitution before submitting the changes to a popular referendum.
The military also said that they would dissolve the current parliament formed after the elections in last November, when over 90 percent of the seats were garnered by the ruling National Democratic Party, a rare majority in any country's legislative body.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government will remain in place for a six month interim period until elections take place, and it reports to the military high command just like it had reported to President Hosni Mubarak before he stepped down.
Also on Sunday, the caretaker Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said in a televised press conference that the main priority of his cabinet is to restore security in the country, after nearly three weeks of protests.
"The first priority of this government is to restore security and to facilitate daily life for its citizens," he said, adding "I guarantee that this cabinet will return rights to the people and fight the corruption."
Shafiq said on Sunday the Supreme Council of the armed forces is to determine the future and position of Mubarak-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman, according to state news agency MENA.
Shafiq said that Suleiman could hold a key post in the coming period but the issue needs to be decided by the armed forces.
In downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square, cars began moving across the roundabout for the first time since the massive demonstration broke out. Some Egyptians were celebrating victory, while others asking the people to leave.
On Sunday morning, soldiers cordoned off protestors who were remaining in the Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the nationwide demonstration, in order to facilitate the flow of the traffic.
People who declined to leave the square have listed different reasons, including demands for salary raise, release of detained family members or dissolving the parliament.
"We demand the armed forces to release all our sons that have been arrested in Tahrir," said a protestor.
However, others called on them to leave and to give some time for the army to take steps.
"People should move out of the Tahrir and start going to work, enough with the complaints, we need to take our country forward. We took what we want enough," said Reda El Sedi, a young protestor.
Reports circulated that some minor clashes between the army forces and protestors erupted. However, many witnesses said it was among the people themselves, and added that the army has been trying to clean the area with others.
"They treated us with dignity," said Sedi.
Just two days after President Mubarak resigned and withdrew to the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, the military confirmed that Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi is the leader of the supreme council.
The military also sought to reassure the whole world that they would lead a transition to civilian rule and honor international commitments, including a peace treaty with Israel.
However it is unclear yet how the military will meet with opposition leaders to start a dialogue.
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