In a statement to the Middle East News Agency on Wednesday, Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri defended the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) against charges that it seeks to hold on to power.
“The valiant military council has fulfilled its promises,” Ganzouri said, without specifying what those promises were.
The SCAF has repeatedly said that it will transfer power by the end of June after presidential elections are held. Some activists claim that the military council has not laid out a clear timetable for transferring power or devised appropriate laws concerning presidential elections.
When the SCAF took over power following Mubarak’s ouster on 11 February 2011, it said it would hand over power to civilians within six months.
Egyptian revolutionaries criticized the SCAF’s appointment of Ganzouri following Prime Minister Essam Sharaf's resignation because he had served as prime minister in the 1990s under Mubarak.
The state-run Al-Ahram daily claims that Ganzouri has good relations with the SCAF's head, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi.
In his statement, Ganzouri said that Egypt needs to work on achieving equitable distribution of national income in order to ensure a decent life for all its citizens.
"I salute the distinguished Parliament of the revolution, the People’s Assembly, and I salute everyone who contributed to its election, especially Egypt's judges, armed forces and police," he said.
“The sacrifices of the martyrs and the wounded of Egypt can never be adequately compensated except with just retribution,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Egypt's ruling military leaders emphasized that the military was a partner in the 25 January revolution, saying the revolution has eliminated the oppression witnessed under Mubarak.
On its official Facebook page, the military council also said it would soon reveal "secrets and facts" that would make Egyptians proud of their armed forces.
