CAIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The worsening political crisis sweeping Egypt could lead to the army interference in the political scene, a matter which is avoided by the army as it is still reeling from its discouraging experience during a transitional period, analysts said.
As tens of thousands of Egyptians flocked to the main squares nationwide to mark the second anniversary of its unrest that toppled the former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has been gripped by violent clashes, which left at least 52 people dead and more than 2,000 injured over the past six days.
The violent clashes prompted the Egyptian Shura Council, upper house of parliament, to approve on Monday a draft law which allows President Mohamed Morsi to deploy the armed forces in the streets of three turmoil-stricken coastal provinces, Port Said, Suez and Ismailia, in order to arrest riot-inciters, help the police maintain security and protect vital facilities.
The decision to deploy the armed forces in the streets is a bid to involve the military in politics and plant a split between the army and people, said Nasser Amin, chief of Arab Center for Justice Independence.
But Talaat Mosalem, a military expert, told Xinhua that complexity in the political scene necessitates the armed forces to consider how big a role they should play in the country's destiny.
The Armed Forces had run the country since toppling Mubarak in February 2011 during the transitional period until Morsi assumes power in June 2012.
"The situation in Egypt is worsening as political forces are unlikely to reach a compromise," said Mosalem,
The armed forces are still respected by the people who are frustrated with the government as well as many political forces, he added.
Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi warned Tuesday that the political crisis sweeping Egypt could lead to the collapse of the country.
Sisi, also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, asserted that the army seeks to assist the police forces in their patriotic role in protecting the country, noting that the political, economic, social and security problems facing Egypt represent "a threat to the country's security and stability."
Mosalem deemed the defense ministry statement as a warning massage that Egypt would face a serious crisis, stressing that the army's deployment is "a must" in light of the bloody clashes in Port Said, which left at least 40 people dead due to conflicts over recent sentences to 21 football game rioters.
A joint statement of the country's main opposition bloc National Salvation Front (NSF) and the Salafist Al-Nour Party said on Wednesday that "All political factions should come forward because one faction alone is insufficient to shoulder all responsibilities."
In the meantime, Mohamed El-Baradie, a leading figure of the NSF, which refused earlier Morsi's call for national dialogue, urged for an immediate meeting with president Morsi, ministers of defense and interior affairs, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, and the Salafist parties along with the front to take necessary actions to end violence.
Faridah EL Naqash, a political expert echoed the point of view of Mosalem, saying "the current crisis might lead the army to return to politics."
The army is the only force which is still organized, united and capable of sponsoring the national consensus among the political parties, she said.
Furthermore, the agreement between the NSF and the Salafists could press the president to make a concession to end the political crisis, she added, referring to the meeting held between the two sides on Wednesday.
However, Ahmad Mahran, chief of a Cairo-based center for political studies, said that "Baradie's call for the defense minister to join the national dialogue is a bid to bring the army back to political life, which would take the country to zero level if people lose confidence in their elected president."
Mahran voiced surprise for Baradie call, despite the oppositions' demands during the transition period for the army to withdraw from politics.
"The military has a bad experience for the army, which lost much of his popularity during that period," he said.
He stressed that there is no need for the army to interfere, noting that a recent consensus between the opposition and al-Nour party is the beginning to break the Muslim Brotherhood's "dominant control of the country."
The consensus will force the brotherhood to reconsider the situation and make compromise, Mahran concluded.
Feedback
RSS
