Egypt is gearing up for its first post Hosni Mubarak presidential poll, scheduled for later this month, but there is much unrest among the people amidst a growing perception that the ruling military is trying to keep its hold on power by getting a candidate of choice elected as president.
Yesterday, anti-military protesters who had assembled outside the defence ministry were attacked, and the resulting clashes had claimed 20 lives.
Officials of the ruling military council addressed a press conference today to assuage concerns and heated tempers, after the shocking bloodshed.
Major General Mohammed al-Assar, a senior official in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, told the media that the government would ensure that presidential election scheduled for May 23-24 will be fair.
"We are committed to fair elections 100 per cent. We don't have any candidates. All the candidates are respectable Egyptians," Assar told a news conference.
Many of the protesters who were attacked yesterday were supporters of Salafist preacher, Hazem Abu Ismail, who was barred from contesting the election.
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Al Assar said the presidential elections would be held in full transparency, and asserted that none of the 13 contenders in fray had the military's backing.
"We stand an equal distance from all candidates," he said, poiting out that more that 40 international NGOs had been invited to monitor the polls. (MORE) PTI WAJ