ARAB WORLD | 23.01.2012
Egypt's new parliament opens for its first session
The new Egyptian parliament opened for its first session in Cairo on Monday, electing a speaker as its first order of business.
As the oldest member of the 508-seat house, 81-year-old Mahmoud al-Saqa of the liberal Wafd party acted as speaker for the inaugural session.
The dominant Muslim Brotherhood group, which won 47 percent of the seats, nominated senior party official Mohammed Saad al-Katatni for the post. He seemed likely to secure it.
Islamist parties like the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party are now legal in Egypt after last year's ouster of long-serving President Hosni Mubarak. Combined, they won two-thirds of the 498 seats that were available in a multi-stage election that began last November and is still not quite finished. The country's interim military ruler, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, appointed 10 further members of parliament.
Saad al-Katatni is favorite to be house speakerMore elections loom
Monday's session began with a moment of silence to remember those killed in the uprising against Mubarak.
Security forces were also on high alert in the capital and around the parliament building, which is not far away from Tahrir Square, the part of Cairo that became the epicenter of protests against Egypt's former rulers.
Parliament is now expected to start work on a new Egyptian constitution, and to help lay the foundations for presidential elections, currently scheduled for June. Egypt's military rulers will remain in charge of the country until these processes are complete, but say they will step back thereafter.
Elections for the upper house of parliament are scheduled to begin in February.
Author: Mark Hallam (AP, dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Andrew Bowen
Editor: Andrew Bowen
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