Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces ( SCAF ) insisted that parliamentary elections will open next Monday as scheduled despite escalating violence in the country. Since last Friday, demonstrations took place in Tahrir square in the centre of capital Cairo demanding Egypt’s military forces transfer power to the civil government. At least 39 people were killed and more than 2,000 others were injured in the clashes between demonstrators and security forces. SCAF member Mukhtar el-Mullah stressed security is assured and every Egyptian must take part in the vote. He added that this is the first step to build a democratic Egypt.

In another development, Egypt’s Hayat TV channel reported that Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has appointed former Egypt Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzoury as new leader to establish a new government to drive the country out of the current political crisis. Mr. Kamar led the Egypt’s cabinet in the 1996 – 1999 term when his government proposed some measures to liberate the economy.