Egyptian reformers demand election boycott

CAIRO - Egypt's pro-reform Kefaya (Enough) Movement is calling for a boycott of the country's first presidential election because the rules restrict independent candidates.

Demonstrators from Kefaya, a loose grouping of political pro-reform activists, were beaten by government supporters during protests last week when they called for a boycott of a referendum that approved the new system for presidential polls.

Egypt is expected to hold its first multi-candidate presidential poll in September. Under the old system, Egyptians voted yes or no to a sole candidate chosen by parliament.

Opponents say the new system sets prohibitive conditions for independents, such as requiring them to win support from at least 65 of the 444 elected members of the lower house of parliament, 90 per cent of whom are from the ruling party.

"We call for a boycott of the presidential election because the obstacles in front of the independents are not fair," Kefaya coordinator George Ishak said.

Ishak said his movement was meeting other opposition groups, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, to co-ordinate future strategy.

- REUTERS