Egyptian army promises smooth transition to democracy

 Press conference of the Youth Coalition (Al-Masry al-Youm).

Egypt's new military rulers have pledged to enact a smooth transition to civilian rule.The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces vowed on Saturday to hand power to an elected, civilian government in a statement that came a day after Mubarak left. The military said in their statements 3 and 4 they will  'guarantee the peaceful transition of power in the framework of a free, democratic system which allows an elected, civilian power to govern the country to build a democratic, free state.'Also they pledged to honour its international treaties - in an apparent nod to the country's 1979 peace treaty with Israel. 'The Arab Republic of Egypt is committed to all regional and international obligations and treaties,' the military statement read. It is believe dthat the military will leave the present government in place, for the time being.
Later on Saturday, Egyptian state television reported that prosecutors had begun an investigation into three former ministers from Mubarak's government. Travel bans were imposed on former prime minister Ahmed Nazif and former interior minister Habib al-Adli, who were both sacked by Mubarak before he stepped down from the presidency on Friday. House arrest was also imposed on Anas el-Fikky, the information minister, who had been reappointed in a cabinet that had been swiftly sworn in as a concession to protesters. Shortly afterwards, Egypt's current prime minister Ahmed Shafiq told a private Egyptian television station that el-Fikky had resigned and that his resignation had been accepted.

The united front of youth movements, the Youth of Anger Uprising Coalition, on Saturday said in a press conference that it would like 'normal life' to return to Tahrir Square starting Sunday. 'Leaving the square is an announcement of our victory, and if we don’t like how things progress, the 20 million people who protested won’t fail to protest again,' said Nasser Abdel Hamid, (independent) a member of the coalition.

The coalition said that it has accomplished the first phase of the revolution which is the fall of the old regime and that it will now begin the more difficult task of building a new one. 'This revolution wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the unique people of Egypt who spilled their blood,' they said.
After Mubarak’s departure, the coalition will continue to press additional demands such as  abolishing the Emergency Law, forming of a national unity government, and prosecuting corrupt government officials and businessmen. It also demands the dissolution of the parliament, an investigation into reasons for the security void that occurred during the first week of the revolution, the release of all political detainees, the lifting restraints on the formation of political parties and the formation of a committee to create a new constitution.

The coalition plans a 'day of victory'  celebration in Tahrir Square next Friday.