Egypt's President calls for parliamentary elections

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi has announced the dates for the first post-constitution elections, saying the four-stage process will start in April and last till late June.
In a Presidential decree last night, Mursi announced that the vote will take place in four stages due to a shortage of election supervisors. The new parliament will convene on July 6.
Earlier, the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, agreed to amend the elections law based on changes proposed by the High Constitution Court.
The election call comes at time of deep political crisis which has divided the country into two groups, one supporting political Islamists and another opposing it.

The secular opposition represented in the National Salvation Front has decided to boycott the elections as long as their preconditions are not met. The preconditions include guarantees for transparency of elections.