Egyptian leftists denounce Constituent Assembly

Protest organisers include 15 different groups, including Revolutionary Socialists, the Free Front for Peaceful Change, the National Front for Justice and Democracy, among others.

In a joint statement, the groups said yesterday that they believe the Constituent Assembly that is tasked with drafting the country's constitution does not represent all Egyptian communities.

They also demanded the dismissal of Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin and said he should be interrogated about actions taken against protesters on January 26, 2011, when he was head of the Assiut Security Department, as well as his use of force in breaking up recent sit-ins.

Kamal Khalil, the founder of the Workers and Peasants party, is among those demanding a new Constituent Assembly.

Khalil has also opposed what he called a "safe exit" to those who killed protesters and has called for the release of all political detainees.

He also demanded that the minimum amount for wages and pensions be adjusted to 1500 per month.

"Those who do not follow the goals of the revolution regarding social justice, do not release detained revolutionaries and are preparing to issue a new emergency law and laws restricting freedoms will not draft our constitution," Khalil told Al-Masry Al-Youm.

He said that the formation of the United Revolutionary Front, an alliance comprising all of the leftist and revolutionary parties, will be announced during demonstrations today.

The demonstrations were original scheduled for Friday, but were postponed after the Popular Current alliance, headed by Hamdeen Sabahi, held a conference yesterday declaring its establishment.