Egyptian Brotherhood calls for civilian leaders

Transferring power to a civilian-led government in Cairo would ensure the country's long-term stability, an Islamist leader said. Egyptians have expressed frustration with the pace at which the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces is opening the door to civilian rule. Essam El-Erian, vice chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, told the Muslim Brotherhood's official Ikhwanweb site that presidential elections were the foundation of Egyptian democracy. "The very presence of an elected president, an elected Parliament and elected local councils will undoubtedly reinforce the process of democratization and the country's stability," he said. The FJP gained a dominant position in the Egyptian Parliament through a series of tiered elections that began late last year. The Muslim Brotherhood, before the establishment of its political arm, said it wouldn't nominate anyone for president or endorse any military candidates. A constitutional court in Egypt announced this week it would start the presidential nomination process in March. The post-revolution situation in Egypt remains tense more than a year after Hosni Mubarak resigned as president. Last week, more than 75 people were killed during riots at a soccer match in Port Said. SCAF opponents said a post-revolution security vacuum is to blame for the violence.