Coalition opposes Mubarak

CAIRO, Egypt – A former Egyptian prime minister, judges and intellectuals from different ideological backgrounds announced Saturday that they had formed a new movement aimed at ending President Hosni Mubarak’s lengthy rule.

The main goal of the National Coalition for Democratic Transformation was “fighting dictatorship and the corruption of the regime,” former Premier Aziz Sedki said.

Mubarak and his supporters, including President Bush, say the longtime ruler is already moving the country toward democratic reform, namely by opening presidential elections to more than one candidate.

But Sedki described the recent referendum on amending the constitution that would allow the multiparty elections to take place as “not a miracle, but a farce and a fraud.”

“We are against dictatorship, and against those who shut the door to peaceful transitions, and those who mess with public money,” said Yahia al-Gamal, a former government minister and member of the new coalition.

The list of coalition members ranges from members of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s government to writers to lawmakers long considered to be in Mubarak’s camp.

“This is a message in itself to the regime,” said Diaa Rashwan, a terrorism expert. “It’s a coalition of individuals, not professional politicians – their anger and frustration was powerful enough to push them to climb the podium.”

Mustafa Bakri, the spokesman of the group and editor of the independent daily Al-Osboa, said the coalition would first work with other opposition groups and then draft their version of a new constitution.

Bakri said they would hold a conference in a month’s time and decide on a reformist agenda to present to Mubarak and the government.