
Ahmed Shafiq could be supported by leftist Tagamuu Party (Photo: Reuters)
The leftist Tagammu party has announced that it will support Hosni Mubarak's ex-prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in the presidential elections runoffs if he agrees to certain demands.
In a statement released Sunday, the party said it would back Shafiq if he signed the so-called 'pledge document,' a document drawn up by leftist and liberal groups calling for a civil state without gender, religious or class discrimination.
The party said backing Shafiq was the only way to prevent Egypt becoming an Islamic state and warned that a boycott would lead to a victory for the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi.
The statement stressed that the party had always been part of Egypt's struggle, playing a crucial role in 1977 when major protests broke out against former president Anwar El-Sadat and against later against Hosni Mubarak.
The party vowed to fight any attempt by the old regime to revive its control over the country and pointed out that such a process would be easier than fighting a country ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood which "is a threat to the democratic and civil state."
The runoff round of Egypt's presidential election is scheduled to take place on 16/17 June.
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