Egypt Islamists condemn calls for general strike

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General Mahmoud Hussein Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General Mahmoud Hussein has condemned calls for a general strike and campaign of civil disobedience beginning on February 11, the first anniversary of former president Hosni Mubarak's ouster.
A host of political, workers and student groups have called for acts of civil disobedience and a general strike to force the immediate handover of powers from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to a civilian administration.
Hussein asserted that the group does not support calls for civil disobedience and urged all Egyptians to double their efforts and positive endeavours to help build, not destroy, the homeland.
In a press statement Hussein said, “This is very dangerous to the interests of the homeland and its future. It is a general strike that will stop the railway service and eventually all transports, factories, institutions, universities and schools, and will stop payments owed to the government (taxes - electricity, water and gas bills). The Muslim Brotherhood's Secretary General pointed out that this would exacerbate the already difficult situation in the country and that it would lead to the state’s disintegration and downfall.
Hussein called on those responsible for the strike to listen to the sound of reason, wisdom and logic, and to place public interests above any trifling, limited and personal interests, and to work hard to save the homeland and its people by dropping this destructive action.
He then continued, "If someone intends to demonstrate on that day, this is their right. However, this should be done in a peaceful, civilised way, without any intention to sabotage and disrupt. A protest cannot be both peaceful and destructive at the same time".
The MB Secretary General added, "We succeeded, with the Grace of God, to elect a People’s Assembly (PA) that truly represents us all. It is only appropriate for us now to turn to that elected PA with our demands, which it shall meet. We have to be patient, though. Demands are many, and the new PA has to implement reforms of thirty years of rampant corruption, which cannot be done in one day. We must not lend our ears to the media which resort to excitement and agitation and call for violence, sabotage and destruction."
The Salafists leader in Alexandria Abdul Moneim Al-Shahat, the spokesman of Al-Daawa Al-Salafiya movement (The Salafist Call) announced that the movement will not participate in the civil disobedience beginning on February 11.
A senior official in Egypt's liberal Al-Wafd Party Hossam Al-Khouli confirmed that his party will not participate, pushing Al-Wafd to speed up presidential elections.
On Monday, the Egypt Revolutionaries' Alliance – an umbrella organisation of over 50 political groups, including the country’s six most prominent revolutionary movements – endorsed the campaign.
The alliance was formed during November's Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes between protesters and security forces.
The April 6 Youth Movement is among the groups, supporting the call for a general strike.