Egypt's presidential election commission threatens to halt work due to criticism

Cairo, May 8 (Xinhua-ANI): Egypt's presidential elections committee said late Monday that it would halt its work due to criticism from lawmakers and had suspended a meeting with presidential candidates scheduled for Tuesday.

"There are some scattered rumors referring to mistrust in the commission, and it can't accept what it has been said by the parliament members in this regard", the Supreme Presidential Elections Commission said in a statement.

"It's difficult for the commission to continue its work in a way to satisfy the Egyptians amid an atmosphere where some people stir the strife and escalate the situation," it added.

The commission called on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to intervene to allow the panel to continue its work.

On Monday, the People's Assembly (lower house of parliament) passed the amendments to the election law. The bill bans members of panel overseeing the presidential election from taking any political or parliamentary posts, cancels the jail sentence for electoral violations but increases the fines, and orders to give candidates the copies of the results of vote count.

The presidential election will be held on May 23 and 24, with a total of 13 candidates contesting the vote. A run-off will be held in mid-June if no one wins out in the first round. (Xinhua-ANI)