Egypt's SCAF commits to civilian rule

CAIRO, April 23 (UPI) -- Authority over the Egyptian government will be handed to civilians operating under the authority of a representative constitution, the military said.

Egyptians last week demonstrated in Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest the military's role in post-revolutionary politics.

After taking control in February 2011, the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces pledged to turn power over to a civilian government by mid-2011.

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, in response to demonstrations, restated his commitment to handing power over to a civilian, Egyptian news service al-Ahram reports.

Activists have accused the SCAF of attempting to interfere in drafting a new constitution.

Islamic movements have dominated the post-revolutionary political landscape in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood, banned during the Hosni Mubarak era, is one of the more dominant forces in Parliament.

Egypt is to have presidential elections next month. Several candidates, including some who served in Mubarak's administration, were banned from competing.

The Muslim Brotherhood announced last week it reinstated Khairat al-Shater as its deputy chairman after withdrawing his presidential nomination because of the ban.