Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood wants government sacked

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has called on the ruling generals to sack the military-appointed government, saying it has failed to manage the deteriorating security and economic situation in the country.             

Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan said on Thursday the military should appoint a Brotherhood representative as prime minister, who would then form a new government.              

The calls for sacking the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, come after deadly soccer riot that sparked days of clashes between protesters and the police. At least 74 were killed in the riot on Feb. 1 and at least 15 more died in the clashes that followed.               

We call on the military council to sack this government that has failed to handle this big event and to form another government," said Ghozlan. "If there is a government in place that is really backed by the choice of the people, it will act without regard for any pressure from anyone. It will seek to reassure the people and provide it with security," he added.                  

Military troops deployed around the country starting Wednesday in an attempt to restore some security, and as state media said, "restore the state's prestige." Mobile patrols roved main roads and squares, and other troops guarded government ministries, banks and other public buildings.                

The Brotherhood calls for forming a new government appear to be partially in response to growing dissent.               
Essam el-Erian, a leading Brotherhood lawmaker, said negotiations to form such a government have not begun yet, and could only happen with the approval of the military council.             

"We are a considerable bloc that can create an agreement over such a government," he said. "The country needs an effective government."             

Military generals had previously said they would not be opposed to a government formed by the parliament majority. The legislature's primary task remains selecting the 100-member constituent assembly which will be entrusted with writing the country's new constitution.              

The deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood, Khairat el-Shater, told the Arabic TV network Al-Jazeera that a wide-based coalition government should reflect the sizes of the respective political groups in parliament, but also include technocrats and public figures.         

He said he expected it to be led by a member of the Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice party.            
"We will not monopolize the government," el-Shater told Al-Jazeera late Wednesday.            

Emad Gad, a lawmaker from the liberal Egyptian Democratic Socialist Party, which has 25 seats in the parliament, said his party won't join a coalition government but will remain in the opposition bloc.             

"Didn't they win the majority? Let them manage the country and put up with the responsibility," Gad said.           
The domestic tension comes amid a growing rift between Egyptian rulers and the country's longtime strategic ally, the U.S. Egyptian officials have cracked down on foreign nonprofit pro-democracy groups, including four American organizations, accusing them of using foreign funds to foment protests in the country.

AP