Egypt Gives an Inch on Election Date

Monday brought a mixed bag of news out of Egypt. First came the update that 19 Americans working in nonprofit organizations in the North African nation were still in line to be tried for funding-related reasons, despite Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s warning sounds about Egypt’s future funding from the U.S.

However, a more positive report also hit the wires Monday with word that Egyptian authorities have agreed to speed up the election process for their country’s next presidential poll, although the new date hasn’t yet been set.  —KA

AP via Google News:

Egypt’s top election official says voting for a new president will be brought forward from June, in line with demands by protesters. That could mean a new Egyptian constitution would be drawn up under a civilian government.

Election commission chief Abdel-Moez Ibrahim told the Egyptian daily Al Ahram did not set a date for the election, but he said nominations for presidency would be accepted March 10, a month earlier than the original date.

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On Monday the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said the U.S. citizens involved in the funding dispute have been working to build a more democratic society in Egypt and “have done absolutely nothing wrong.”