Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood urged Egyptian voters on Sunday to cast their votes in the nation's upcoming presidential poll against their current leader, Hosni Mubarak as the veteran leader promised on Monday brighter future for his people.
Mubarak promised to create millions of jobs for the country's unemployed if re-elected. He also stated on Monday that amending Egypt's constitution to allow for a multi-party presidential race would "pave the way for more political reforms", according to KUNA.
He stressed the importance of Egypt's agricultural sector, as it constitutes nearly 20 percent of Egyptian exports and employs more than half of its citizens. Mubarak called for more assistance to farmers, including improved farming technology. The incumbent president also added that if elected, he would build 400 villages on one million desert acres over the next six years.
These promises came one day after a representatives of Muslim Brotherhood said in an official statement “All Brothers have to realize that we cannot support an oppressor or cooperate with a corrupt person or a dictator.” The movement leader, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, added that Mubarak had not introduced a single reform measure in his 24 years in office.
The powerful movement, considered Egypt's largest opposition movement, has been banned in Egypt since 1954, though its activities are tolerated by authorities today.
The announcement came on the same day that Mubarak, head of the ruling National Democratic Party, launched his re-election campaign prior to upcoming September 7 elections, the first multi-candidate election in Egypt's history.
The Muslim Brotherhood has declined joining a boycott of the elections as other opposition parties have done, and instead sent out a strong message urging Egyptians to take part in the vote, according to the AFP.
“Our participation in this election is a responsibility in front of Allah, history and the generations,” said the Brotherhood statement.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
