Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa called for deferring the country's upcoming parliamentary polls, scheduled for September.
Moussa's call was made on Saturday, during the first session of the National Reconciliation Conference chaired by deputy prime minister, Yehia al-Gamal.
Moussa also slammed the new political rights law announced on Thursday. His reservations particularly concerned parts on voting rights for Egypt’s seven million expatriate citizens.
The conference was boycotted by a number of political groups. Representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and revolutionary youth groups were absent, though Essam Sharaf, Egypt's interim prime minister, and Mamfouh Shahin, member of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), attended.
Gamal said the SCAF insists on transferring power next September, and referred to a timetable it previously prepared, which involves holding presidential elections by the end of this year.
Sharaf said his government would not intervene in the sessions for national dialogue, but facilitate the process to help the committee that will write the new constitution.
Gamal said political groups that boycotted the conference believe the process was useless, as the People’s Assembly members meant to form a committee would write the new constitution by themselves.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
