CAIRO: Egyptian youth leaders moved to set up a new political party Thursday as the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood played an increasingly important role in preparing for post-Mubarak elections promised within six months. Life in Egypt is still far from normal six days after the momentous overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, 82, with tanks on Cairo streets, banks closed, worker protests and demonstrations given voice by revolutionary fervour and schools shut down. “We are in a test that we have yet to come out of. Are you pleased by the strikes, sit-ins, the closed factories, the banks that are not working?” army spokesman General Ismail Etmaan said on state television late Wednesday night. “The Higher Military Council will put matters back on track, but help us,” he said. “The armed forces do not have future ambitions and want to hand power to the civilian parties when they are strong so that they don't collapse.” The Brotherhood has a member on the constitutional committee, is also on a council set up by activists to protect the revolution and has said it will set up as a political party as soon as laws are changed to let it and others do so. The Brotherhood's spokesman appeared on state television a few days ago, a first for the Islamist movement which was banned in the Mubarak era. The Brotherhood is viewed with suspicion by Washington but is seen as the only truly organised bloc in Egypt and reckons it could win up to 30 percent of votes in a free election. Having been timid in the early days of the revolt, it clearly thinks it is safe to come out. Pro-democracy leaders plan to bring one million people out on the streets for a “Victory March” on Friday to celebrate Mubarak's ouster, and perhaps remind generals of the power of the street. The Higher Military Council that took over after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, 82, was under pressure Thursday from activists demanding the immediate release of political prisoners and the lifting of emergency rule. Israel's foreign minister had called the proposed passage a “provocation”, and its go-ahead could have put Egypt, a key ally of the US which has a peace treaty with Israel, in an awkward diplomatic position. An ailing Mubarak, holed up with his family in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is still coming to terms with the tumultuous uprising, vowing to “live and die on Egyptian soil”.
