In New Egypt Shake-Up, Islamists Put In Governor Posts, Human Rights And Press Agencies

[Purveyor]

By MAGGIE MICHAEL | Associated Press | 4 hours, 51 minutes ago in

Egypt's Islamist leadership took a new move Tuesday to put its stamp on the country's government, appointing members of the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood as provincial governors and installing ultraconservatives and other Islamists in the state's top human rights body and a powerful media council.

The shake-up was the latest step by President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood to reshape state institutions that were long the monopoly of ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, his ruling party and the military that backed him.

Supporters have praised the moves as part of a drive to cleanse the system of Mubarak loyalists after Morsi was inaugurated in late June as the country's first freely elected president. But the heavy infusion of Islamists into government institutions has raised fears of Brotherhood domination monopolizing power as much as Mubarak did and moving Egypt into a more religious rule.

The governorships of Egypt's 27 provinces have long been prime posts for solidifying the president's power. The governors are appointed by the president and generally implement his policies. Under Mubarak, the positions went to retired military generals or ruling party loyalists.

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http://www.newser.com/article/da135tv80/in-new-egypt-shake-up-islamists-put-in-governor-posts-human-rights-and-press-agencies.html

[riderinthestorm]

1. Lost in the GD convention hysteria. Perhaps re-post in LBN where it may get some notice?

Otherwise this worthy story will be lost in the fluff...

[David__77]

2. Well as it's been said, elections have consequences.

The voters supported MB's party more than once. The "left" in Egypt has not articulated itself ideologically. Are they Nasserists? Socialists? Neo-liberals? It's entirely unclear.