Egypt's parliament strips former regime icons off political rights

Egyptian People's Assembly (parliament) passed Thursday a draft law barring Mubarak-era top officials from casting their votes or nomination for top posts for ten years. After a heated session, the lower house of parliament approved the law which prevents the ousted president Hosni Mubarak, his deputy and his prime minister, chairman, secretary general, members of the political bureau and general secretariat of Mubarak's party (the dissolved National Democratic Party) in the last ten years of Mubarak regime, from practicing their political rights for ten years. The law blocks Mubarak Deputy Omar Suleiman and his last Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq from running for presidency, both have already presented candidacy papers to the Presidential Election Committee. The law was referred to Leader of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces Field Marshal Sayyed Tantawi for final approval. The legislation was passed with majority from Islamists and secular reformists MPs. The minority who voted against it, fears the law is unconstitutional and the Parliament could be accused of playing law for politics.