Egyptian lawmakers begin steps to target military-backed regime

Cairo, Mar.12 (ANI): Egyptian lawmakers have voted to begin steps to withdraw confidence from the military-backed government, reflecting a growing anger about the handling of a spat with the U.S. over foreign funding to civil-society groups.

The Egyptian Government is in the process of trying 43 people, including at least 16 Americans, on charges of violating Egypt's highly restrictive law governing foreign financing for NGOs.

In January, a travel ban was imposed on the seven Americans in Egypt at the time.

The case has prompted Washington to threaten to withhold the 1.3 billion dollars in military aid Washington has given Egypt's armed forces every year since 1987.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Islamist-dominated Parliament is reportedly behind the backlash against the government of Prime Minister Kamal Al Ganzouri.

Under the terms of the military-drafted interim constitution, lawmakers have the power to dismiss the cabinet, but no authority to reappoint new ministers.

Withdrawing confidence from Al Ganzouri and his government could compel Egypt's leadership to yield more authority to civilian politicians, analysts have said.

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, which controls nearly 50 percent of the seats in Egypt's People's Assembly, "will make full use out of it and they will be fools not to," one analyst said. (ANI)