Shafiq says Brotherhood will focus on Palestinians, not domestic issues

Egyptian presidential hopeful Ahmed Shafiq warned the country that the Muslim Brotherhood intends to portray the Palestinian issue as Egypt’s biggest problem, Israel Radio reported Sunday.

Shafiq, a secular former prime minister, is facing off against the Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi in a run-off election to determine Hosni Mubarak’s successor.

In a press conference on Sunday, Shafiq said that a government led by the Muslim Brotherhood would spread division and chaos in the country, sending Egypt back to the Dark Ages. Shafiq further claimed that if elected, the Muslim Brotherhood would not care about the Sinai — an area in which criminal and terror activists have stepped up their activities of late.

According to the Egyptian Gazette, Shafiq urged Egyptians that a vote for him would be a vote for a president representing the entire country, not just one faction, one that respects human rights and is committed to the law. He said that he represents a secular state, not a sectarian one, progress and light rather than backwardness and darkness.

Many Egyptians oppose the mere candidacy of Shafiq due to his association with the Mubarak regime as well as with the former president himself. Shafiq served as Mubarak’s prime minister for 33 days at the end of Mubarak’s presidency.

Last week, the results of the first round of what was considered Egypt’s first true presidential election were announced. Morsi won nearly 25% of the votes and Shafiq won nearly 24%. The runoff election between the two is set for June 16-17.

Hours after the runoff election was announced, a mob attacked Shafiq’s Cairo headquarters setting fire to the building, smashing windows with bricks, throwing out campaign signs and tearing campaign posters. Eight people were arrested.