Security Forces Surround Parliament in Egypt, Escalating Tensions

Adam Ferguson for The New York Times

Protesters outside the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo on Thursday. More Photos �

CAIRO ? The Egyptian capital was on edge on Friday as residents, bracing for renewed protests, awaited further reaction from politicians of the Muslim Brotherhood and street activists to court rulings that have thrust the nation?s troubled transition to democracy into grave doubt.

The authorities set up checkpoints overnight and contingents of riot police were moving around the city to prepare for any disturbances.

But the streets remained relatively quiet Friday morning. Mindful of the sweltering sun, organizers have called for a demonstration in the late afternoon and into the night, just hours before the polls are expected to open for the presidential runoff on Saturday.

The rulings on Thursday by the Supreme Constitutional Court, a panel of judges appointed by Egypt?s ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, dissolved the popularly elected Parliament and allowed the toppled government?s last prime minister to run for president, escalating a struggle by remnants of the old elite to block Islamists from coming to power.

The rulings were quickly condemned as a ?coup? by Islamists, liberals and scholars. The court?s action, coming two days before a presidential runoff, set up a showdown with the Islamists who dominate in Parliament. They said Thursday night that they refused to dissolve the legislature and vowed to win the presidency despite the signs of opposition within the government overseeing the vote.

The military rulers did not issue a statement on the court?s decision. But the Web site of the state newspaper Al Ahram reported that the generals said the presidential runoff would still take place on schedule.

The rulings recalled events that have played out across the region for decades, when secular elites have cracked down on Islamists poised for electoral gains, most famously when the dissolution of Algeria?s Islamist-led Parliament started a civil war 20 years ago.

Citing a misapplication of rules for independent candidates, the court sought to overturn the first democratically elected Parliament in more than six decades and the most significant accomplishment of the Egyptian revolt. Many analysts and activists said Thursday that they feared the decision was a step toward re-establishing a military-backed autocracy, though it was not yet clear whether the military leadership was willing to risk a new outbreak of unrest by suppressing the country?s most powerful political forces.

?From a democratic perspective, this is the worst possible outcome imaginable,? said Shadi Hamid, research director of the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. ?This is an all-out power grab by the military.?

The timing of the ruling seems like a transparent attempt to undermine the Islamists just two days before Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood is set to compete in the runoff against Ahmed Shafik, a former air force general and Mr. Mubarak?s last prime minister.

If the ruling is carried out, whoever wins the presidential race would take power without the check of a sitting Parliament and could exercise significant influence over the elections to form a new one. The new president will also take office without a permanent constitution to define his powers or duties. A 100-member constitutional assembly appointed by Parliament and including dozens of lawmakers may also be dissolved. And in any event, the ruling generals are expected to issue their own interim charter during the drafting.

Electing a president without either a constitution or a parliament is like ?electing an ?emperor? with more power than the deposed dictator. A travesty,? Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel Prize-winning diplomat and former presidential candidate, said in a comment online.

In a statement, the Brotherhood?s political arm said the court?s decisions ?confirms that the former regime hasn?t surrendered yet and won?t give up easily.?

Mr. Morsi, the Brotherhood?s candidate, charged that the rulings proved some were ?plotting against the people,? determined to ?tamper with the will of the people.?

But Brotherhood officials said Thursday that they expected Parliament to meet as scheduled next week. They argued that under the Egyptian system, the high constitutional court does not have the authority to order the dissolution of Parliament and that in any event there were less sweeping remedies available to resolve the court?s complaints.

?The Parliament hasn?t been and won?t be dissolved,? Mr. Morsi said in a television interview. He also vowed to compete as planned against Mr. Shafik.

Mayy El Sheikh and Dina Salah Amer contributed reporting.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=00acd3f07e95527135b5d232f57ec4d5

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