Egypt military giving signs of not wanting to relinquish power

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-egypt-military-20111104,0,5875362.story

Activists and politicians worry that the military, Egypt's most revered institution before the revolution, refuses to have its authority and financial interests answerable to an emerging democracy.

By Jeffrey Fleishman and Amro Hassan, Los Angeles Times

7:12 p.m. CDT, November 3, 2011

Reporting from Cairo— Egypt's ruling military council is silencing critics while polishing its image amid increasing signs that it is plotting to stay in power behind the scenes even after a new parliament is in place early next year.

Activists and politicians are worried that the military, the country's most revered institution before the revolution that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in February, refuses to have its authority and financial interests answerable to an emerging democracy.

Concerns were heightened this week when the military-backed interim government announced parameters for writing Egypt's new constitution. The proposals allow the generals to appoint 80% of the constitutional committee. They also state that the defense budget would be kept secret and the military would be the "guardian" of the constitution, raising the possibility of intervention in legislative and presidential affairs.

[Robb]

1. Well knock me over with a feather.