Ahmed Shafiq: MB to Lead Egypt to Dark Ages

Egypt’s presidential candidate and former Hosni Mubarak’s Prime Minister, Ahmed Shafiq, on Sunday slammed his rival Mohamed Mursi as the representative of a “secretive group” that seeks to lead Egypt back to “dark ages,” in reference to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Shafiq, who shocked many spectators when he came second in the first round of the presidential elections late May – as he was an integral part of the toppled government of President Hosni Mubarak -, vowed that the next government should be civilian-led.

He urged Egyptians “to choose for Egypt a president who will make it a country for all, not a state for one faction.”

“No one will be detained for their opinion… Security services will be committed to the law and to human rights standards,” Shafiq told a news conference.

“I represent a secular state… the Brotherhood represents a sectarian state.”

“I represent progress and light, they represent backwardness and darkness,” he said.

Shafiq said he would strive for a “modern, civil, fair state” while the Muslim Brotherhood will “take it to the dark ages.”

Shafiq gained support as a candidate in the country’s first post-revolt presidential election thanks to a strong law-and-order campaign in a country where many crave stability.

But the ex-air force commander, who served as the last prime minister under ousted president Mubarak, is reviled by activists who spearheaded the 2011 revolt.
Before his press conference, Shafiq’s offices were attacked early Sunday in two provincial towns, a security services official said, according to Alarabiya.