Egyptian president reschedules election date

CAIRO - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi rescheduled the parliamentary elections date for its conflict with the Coptic feasts, official Ahram online reported Saturday.

According to a presidential decree, the parliamentary elections, previously scheduled to begin on April 27, have been brought forward to start on April 22.

The elections will take place in four stages and last for three months. The first stage of voting will be held in five provinces including Cairo, Beheira, Port Said, North Sinai and el-Minya on April 22-23, with a run-off scheduled for April 29-30.

The second stage will be held in eight governorates including el Giza, Alexandria, Sohag, Beni Suef, Aswan, Suez, Red Sea and New Valley on May 11-12, with a run-off on May 19-20. The third stage will include also eight governorates: Daqahliya, Qalyubiya, Minufiya, Qina, Damietta, Luxor, Matruh and South Sinai. It will start on May 28-29 and its run-off will be on June 5-6.

The last stage will be held on June 15-16 with a run-off on June 23-24 in six governorates: Gharbiya, Sharqiya, Asyut, Kafr-el- sheikh, Faiyum and Ismailia.

The first session of the new parliament is scheduled to be held on July 2.

On Thursday, Morsi issued a presidential decree, calling on parliamentary elections to be held on April 27, but Christian Shura Council members submitted complaints Saturday as the elections would be held during their Easter celebrations.

The president promised earlier Saturday to reschedule the date of elections to avoid conflict with the dates of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, two important days in the church's pre-Easter calendar.