Lina Natour takes part in a rally celebrating Egypt’s freedom Sunday Feb. 13, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/The Tulsa World , Mike Simons)CAIRO – Egypt’s military leaders dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution Sunday, meeting two key demands of protesters who have been keeping up pressure for immediate steps to transition to democratic, civilian rule after forcing Hosni Mubarak out of power.
The military rulers who took over when Mubarak stepped down Friday and the caretaker government set as a top priority the restoration of security, which collapsed during the 18 days of protests that toppled the regime. The caretaker government held its first meeting since the president was ousted, and before it began workers removed a giant picture of Mubarak from the meeting room.
The protesters had been pressing the ruling military council, led by Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, to immediately move forward with the transition by appointing a presidential council, dissolving the parliament and releasing political prisoners.
“They have definitely started to offer us what we wanted,” said activist Sally Touma, reflecting a mix of caution and optimism among the protesters. Thousands have remained in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square to demand immediate steps by the council such as the repeal of repressive emergency laws that give police broad power.
The suspension of the constitution effectively puts Egypt under martial law – where the military makes the laws and enforces them in military tribunals. The ruling council is expected to clarify the issue in upcoming statements, and the role of civilian courts remains unclear.