ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAIRO: Egypt’s military ruler said Thursday the country is going through a critical period, particularly on the security and economic fronts, and called for national unity to achieve a democratic state under civilian rule.
Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, delivering a televised address to mark the 1973 war against Israel, also said disagreements and mistrust have plagued the period following the uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Tantawi, who was Mubarak’s defense minister for 20 years, has been widely criticized by protesters and political groups for his reluctance to institute wide-ranging changes in the wake of Mubarak’s ouster.

“Egypt is going through a critical period of its history. It is witnessing a comprehensive transformation of its national course … as changes and crises loom in the horizon,” Tantawi said. “Our great people … will be able to get over this critical and decisive phase of its history by agreeing on national goals, and protecting its unity and seeking a modern civil state based on sound democratic principles.”

He added that the ruling generals are working to overcome disagreements and mistrust that have plagued the transitional period, and address the looming economic and security problems.

Eight months since Mubarak’s fall, the military rulers have yet to give a clear timetable of their plan for handing over power. Instead, they have floated a proposal which would hold presidential elections by late next year. This prompted several presidential hopefuls to propose their own demands, asking the military to arrange for presidential elections by April.

Tantawi’s speech Thursday also provided him the opportunity to praise the role of the country’s armed forces. During the 1973 war, the Egyptian military recovered from its stinging defeat in the 1967 Mideast conflict – when Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula the Golan Heights and the West Bank – to attack the Israeli military and restore Egyptians’ faith in their military.