Head of Egypt military discusses constitutional legitimacy

Mohamed Hussein Tantawi meets with Egyptian PM, interior minister to discuss "immediate return of life to normality."

By ASSOCIATED PRESS, JPOST.COM STAFF
Gaza Egypt Celebration 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Gaza Egypt Celebration 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the military council now running Egypt, met a number of different senior ministers on Saturday, state media reported, Reuters reported. Tantawi met with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and the interior minister, the report said.
He also met the head of the constitutional court and the justice minister "to discuss the legal and constitutional issues which bring about constitutional legitimacy and justice," according to state media. RELATED:Egyptians celebrate new era as Hosni Mubarak steps downBiden: "It is a historic day for the people of Egypt"ElBaradei: I don't believe Mubarak should be put on trialEditor's Notes: ‘Maybe this is the moment to put our trust in freedom'
Tantawi discussed the need for "the immediate return of life to normality" with Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. With Interior Minister Mahmoud Wagdy, he considered the speedy return of the police to duty as soon as possible.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu welcomed a pledge by the Egyptian military to maintain the peace treaty between the two countries. Netanyahu said the treaty "is a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Middle East."
His announcement came after Egypt's military rulers promised the country will abide by its international agreements, a nod to allay concerns that Egypt's peace deal with Israel could be threatened following the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Following Netanyahu's statement, Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Hussein Tantawi who has headed the top military security council in Egypt since anti-government protests began.
Also on Saturday, the main coalition of youth and opposition groups in Egypt said it will end its protest in a central Cairo square. But the groups said they will call for weekly demonstrations to maintain pressure on the ruling military to implement democratic reforms.
The group listed its demands at a press conference and said they want hated emergency laws to be lifted, parliament to be dissolved and a committee to amend the constitution, among others. Some protesters not linked to the coalition say they will stay camped on Tahrir Square, and it was not immediately clear when the downtown area will be cleared.