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| Egypt's post-Mubarak parliament holds first session | Egypt's post-Mubarak parliament holds first session |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first Egyptian parliament elected since President Hosni Mubarak resigned last February after a popular uprising is holding its inaugural session. | The first Egyptian parliament elected since President Hosni Mubarak resigned last February after a popular uprising is holding its inaugural session. |
| Islamists dominated the elections held for the People's Assembly over the past three months, winning 73% of the seats. | Islamists dominated the elections held for the People's Assembly over the past three months, winning 73% of the seats. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party won 235 seats, the ultra-conservative Salafist Nour Party 121 and the moderate al-Wasat Party 10. | |
| The chamber's first task is to elect a speaker and two deputies. | |
| Monday's session was chaired by Mahmoud al-Saqqa of the liberal New Wafd party, who at 81 is the oldest member of the People's Assembly. | |
| He began proceedings by ordering a moment of silence for the 850 people who were killed during the 18-day uprising against Mr Mubarak. | |
| The former leader is currently on trial, accused of ordering security forces to shoot protesters. He could face the death penalty if convicted. | |
| Oaths | |
| The assembly's inaugural session then turned briefly chaotic when several MPs made impromptu additions to the text of the oath they were taking, provoking angry calls to order from Mr Saqqa. | |
| The oath ends with a pledge to respect the constitution and law, but one Islamist added "God's law", while two pro-reform MPs promised to "complete the 25 January revolution" and to respect "the rights of its martyrs". | |
| Several independent MPs and others from liberal and secular groups also wore yellow sashes saying: "No to military trials for civilians." | |
| At least 12,000 people have faced military tribunals since the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces assumed the president's powers. | |
| Held over three phases between 28 November and 11 January, the parliamentary elections were considered the freest in Egyptian history. | |
| The People's Assembly's priority is to select a 100-member panel to draft a new constitution that will be put to a referendum before a presidential election in June, when the ruling generals should step down. | |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says liberals fear the Muslim Brotherhood and the ruling military council will strike an agreement to entrench the army's privileges and the brotherhood's control over Egyptian society. | |
| Liberal and secular parties polled badly, with the New Wafd securing 38 seats, the Egyptian bloc 35 and the Reform and Development Party 10. | Liberal and secular parties polled badly, with the New Wafd securing 38 seats, the Egyptian bloc 35 and the Reform and Development Party 10. |
| The Revolution Continues, a group formed by youth activists behind the uprising that ousted Mr Mubarak, won only seven seats. | The Revolution Continues, a group formed by youth activists behind the uprising that ousted Mr Mubarak, won only seven seats. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood's General Guide, Mohammed Badie, said in December the Freedom and Justice Party would form a broad coalition if it won the elections. | |