Egypt's NSF announces election boycott

Egypt’s main opposition National Salvation Front announced on Tuesday that it will boycott parliamentary elections set to start on April 22, saying there must first be a law guaranteeing a free and fair vote. Spokesman Sameh Ashour told reporters that the unanimous decision was made at a recent meeting in Cairo. He accused the ruling Muslim Brotherhood regime of seeking "to kidnap Egypt politically and monopolise its institutions." Arabstoday understands there was strong support for a boycott from leader of the Egyptian Popular Current, Hamdeen Sabahi and Constitution Party head Mohamed el-Baradei. Sabahi, co-leader of NSF, attended the meeting in Cairo after missing out on the last three occasions. Last week, President Mohammed Morsi announced that a four-stage parliamentary election will begin on April 27. However, the date was revised to April 22 after members of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority complained that voting would take place during their Easter holiday.