Egypt Lawmakers Blast Military Rulers Over New Law

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s newly elected lawmakers have criticized the country’s military rulers, saying the army overstepped its authority by passing a law to regulate the upcoming presidential election.

The criticism emerged during the parliament’s first working session Tuesday.

The lawmaker referred to a decision by the military, which has run the country since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow in a popular uprising last February, to impose a law on the presidential vote.

The law stipulates who is eligible to run for president and names a judicial committee to oversee the balloting. It was published in the official Gazette on Jan. 19, just days before parliament convened.

Muslim Brotherhood lawmaker Mohammed el-Beltagy says the army’s move was unjustified and that the parliament will review the bill.