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Egyptian VP to start talks with all parties
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Tensions in Egypt have been high for a week now. The new Egyptian cabinet, has been sworn in to replace the former one, which resigned upon President Hosni Mubarak's order. Vice President, Omar Suleiman, said President Mubarak, had asked him to immediately start dialogue with all political parties and conduct constitutional and legislative reform. Meanwhile, thousands of protestors amassed in Cairo's, Tahrir Square, ignoring the government's curfew.
The vice-president said his contact with all political parties will result in clear proposed constitutional amendments and a specific timetable for their implementation.
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) swears in Omar Suleiman as vice president in Cairo in this video frame grab taken January 29, 2011. |
The newly-sworn-in Egyptian cabinet is headed by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik. Members of the previous cabinet were dismissed by Mubarak as a concession to protesters demanding his resignation.
One of the key ministerial positions is that of interior minister, who heads the internal security forces.
Retired police general Mahmoud Wagdi was given that position, replacing Habib el-Adly, who was widely despised by protesters for the brutality shown by security forces. Gaw-dat el-Malt, who has headed the audit office, was appointed the Finance Minister.
However, Mubarak retained his long-serving defense minister, Field Marshal, Hussein Tan-tawi, and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Akmed Abul Gate).
At a Monday meeting with the new cabinet, which had taken the constitutional oath, Mubarak asserted the importance of fighting against corruption that people have been suffering from and curbing prices and inflation.
The meeting also discussed holding dialogue with all political parties and maintaining political reform.
Despite the changes, the new cabinet seems unlikely to satisfy the tens of thousands of people calling for a new government. They defied the curfew in the capital which was extended from 3pm to 8am. A coalition of opposition groups is calling for a million people to take to Cairo's streets to ratchet up pressure on Mubarak to leave office.
A military spokesman also promised to guarantee freedom of expression ahead the escalation of the protests, and will not use force against them. But the spokesman urged the protestors not to commit acts harming security or damage property.
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