Officials from Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces have objected to demands that the council’s head, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, be called before the People's Assembly for investigation, the independent newspaper Al-Tahrir's website said on Monday.
The military council's members, led by Tantawi, made their objection during a Sunday meeting with Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri. Officials from the General Intelligence Directorate and the ministers of international cooperation, justice, foreign affairs, information, and interior also attended.
Unnamed sources told the newspaper that some SCAF officials expressed concerns that MPs from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party might use Tantawi's appearance in Parliament to make political gains and polish their image.
The same sources said SCAF will never allow Tantawi to be blamed for the Port Said football violence, as they said happened with Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim.
Ibrahim has faced calls for his resignation and investigation following the death of 74 during violence after a football match Port Said on 1 February. Fifteen protesters died in ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces around the country, and most were killed near the Interior Ministry in Cairo.
On 7 February, MPs questioned Ibrahim during a Parliament session. He received scathing criticism for security’s idleness after the match.
People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny on Sunday received 15 motions asking for the ministers of interior, finance, housing, petroleum, social insurance and justice to be questioned before the assembly.
The summons for investigation targeting Tantawi, Ganzouri and Ibrahim include accusations of guilt in violence against protesters, armed robberies, murders of citizens and foreigners, and the Port Said violence.
The sources told Al-Tahrir that Ganzouri gave the assembly the freedom to set a date for questioning the three officials, but as of yet Katatny has not scheduled the session.
The cabinet and the ruling military council in a meeting Sunday discussed ways to coordinate actions ahead of the summons.
