The judges accused the police of "allowing thugs to enter polling stations, attack judges, break and burn ballot boxes and terrorize voters." (AFP)

By Ahmed Fathy & Hamdy Al Husseini, IOL Correspondents

CAIRO, November 23, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Egypt's Judges Union has pressed for army protection to shield its members against attacks by thugs in the current parliamentary elections.

"The attacks on several judges during the second phase of voting demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the police, or even their deliberate negligence," the union said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Tuesday, November 23.

The first round of the second phase in Egypt's month-long parliamentary polls was marred by widespread irregularities and violent incidents, often involving the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).

The judges accused the police of "allowing thugs to enter polling stations, attack judges, break and burn ballot boxes and terrorize voters."

The streets of the usually peaceful Mediterranean city of Alexandria were filled with rival supporters fighting with sticks, knives and machetes.

"All these incidents are irrefutable proof that police supervision was a whitewash," the judges said after an emergency meeting.

"We consequently urge the Army to step in and protect the judges in accordance with constitution," the statement added.

After a first phase surge of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, the ruling party suffered another setback in last week's second phase, although its dominance of parliament is not at risk.

Winning 34 seats in the first phase of the legislative polls, the Muslim Brotherhood grabbed 13 others in the second round while the NDP won only six seats. Run-offs are due to be held on Saturday, November 26.

Complaints

The judges said they would seek a meeting with Justice Minister Mahmoud Abul-Leil to "protest at the heinous attacks on their colleagues while they were on duty."

They also decided to report to the Attorney General on the grisly incidents.

"We don’t want to see a repeat of these attacks and need to carry on with our job without being intimidated in view of police negativity," judge Ahmed Saber, the spokesperson of the Judges Union, told IOL.

Political experts in Egypt had predicted that Mubarak's NDP, while in no danger of losing its majority, would use strong-arm tactics to prevent the Brotherhood from making further inroads in the legislative elections.

Alienating Monitors

The flagrant irregularities have driven a European parliament delegation monitoring the elections to return home.

"We heard of vote-buying, a rigged register, the bussing of voters and we witnessed intimidation. The government party is clinging to power by a variety of well-known tactics," said Edward McMillan-Scott, who led the delegation, according to European Parliament Web site.

He has proposed that another MEP delegation returns "to discuss with the Egyptian parliament and government, its Council on Human Rights and NGOs the application of EU finance, technical assistance and training for a systematic reform of the voting register, as well as the functioning and transparency of future polls."

The delegation was sent by the European Parliament to monitor the polls without receiving an official invitation.

In a statement to IOL, the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid further said it did not monitor the second phase as the first round was knee-deep in regularities.