Egypt’s military rulers rejected calls Thursday to delay parliamentary elections scheduled to take place next week and issued a strongly worded statement that has the potential to further polarize the country as it reels from a week of violent protests.
The statement called on “honorable people” to apprehend those causing strife and turn them over to the authorities. The vague directive could encourage vigilantism between camps supportive and critical of the military as the unrest that has killed at least 38 people and wounded thousands more continues to sow anger and frazzle nerves.
“Egypt is going through a decisive moment in the history of its revolution that demands alertness and solidarity from each and every one of us in order to stop the state from turning and from entering into a state of complete chaos,” the statement said.
The communique was the latest in a series of moves the country’s military leaders have made this week in a thus-far futile attempt to restore order and salvage their damaged reputation. “This is the military spreading chaos, and it’s very, very irresponsible,” said Heba Morayef, an Egypt researcher for Human Rights Watch.
Full Article: Egyptian military rejects call to delay elections.