Ban calls for swift transition in Egypt

CAIRO, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Egypt's military authority to uphold its commitments to a civilian-led government.

Ban met on the sidelines of a sustainability conference in Ethiopia with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamer Ali Amir. His discussions with the Egyptian leader followed a series of elections in post-revolutionary Egypt that saw Islamic parties like the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party score major victories.

Ban called on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to move quickly toward a civilian-led government, the United Nations said in a readout of his meeting.

SCAF faced widespread criticism over the pace at which it was ushering in a new civilian authority. The ruling military council had promised to have elections within six months of former President Hosni Mubarak's resignation in February 2011. Elections began late last year for seats in the Egyptian Parliament.

An advisory council to SCAF, which took over after Mubarak resigned, said the military leaders had no plans to move quicker on political reforms, the country's Egyptian Independent newspaper reports.

SCAF leaders announced nominations for eventual presidential elections could begin as early as April.