The Advisory Council on Tuesday said that it has worked to convince Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim to deploy the police against protesters.
On 8 December, Ibrahim vowed not to use violence or tear gas to disperse demonstrations or sit-ins after Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri pledged not to allow violence against demonstrators. Early this month, dozens of protesters were killed due to clashes between protesters and security forces.
A spokesman for the Advisory Council, Mohamed al-Kholi, said he met with the Interior Minister to discuss procedures for dealing with demonstrators. Kholi said that the army’s involvement in dealing with civilians proved dangerous and should not be repeated.
Ibrahim told al-Masry al-Youm that, prior to the meeting, he rejected the idea that the police return to the streets.
“I will propose a new policy to the council that includes not intervening in dispersing demonstrations and sit-ins,” he said.
Mohamed Nour Faraht, secretary general of the Advisory Council, said Tuesday’s meeting discussed proposals for forming a legal committee to look into laws organizing presidential elections. Sameh Ashour, deputy head of the council, said he leans towards postponing the formation of such a committee, as the law organizing presidential elections must accord with rules laid down by the constitution which has yet to be formed.
