Egyptian PM Sharaf vows to meet protesters' demands

CAIRO, July 22 (UPI) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said he will address protesters' demands and try former regime officers accused of corruption or abuse is a priority.

Sharaf, speaking after his new Cabinet was sworn in Thursday, said he asked his ministers to prepare agendas with the "first objective of achieving the revolution's goals and preserving its gains," Middle East Online reported Friday.

The 59-year-old leader told protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square he would address their demands.

"They have a message,and there is no option but to deal with it, and we will deal with it," he said.

Sharaf said the government would prioritize the trials of officials from former President Hosni Mubarak who have been accused of corruption or abuse.

New amendments to laws regulating Egypt's elections could allow hangers-on from Mubarak's regime access to the new Parliament through corrupt elections, political analysts told al-Masry al-Youm.

The analysts said the amendments announced by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces military council Wednesday could produce a complex voting system and allow Egypt's military rulers to keep the upper hand over a weak Parliament.

"These amendments won't lead to the formation of a Parliament that is installed by fair, competitive and modern measures," said Hassan Nafaa, political science department chairman at Cairo University. "The SCAF wants a divided Parliament that is unable to challenge the power of the ruling council."