Senior Member of Muslim Brotherhood: Imam Khamenei declared justice to Egypt

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A senior member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has expressed gratitude to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for his support of the Egyptian revolution.

Press TV interviews Professor in International Relations Maher Salloum to discuss the issue.

Press TV:What is your take on these latest remarks by the member of Muslim Brotherhood Kamal al-Halbavi thanking Ayatollah Khamenei for his stance on the Egyptian revolution and also tell us what you think about what the Egyptian revolution is going after and what people want?

Salloum:Well this is a true and honest response by the Leader, the brotherly Muslims inside Egypt, towards the speech of Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Iran. What Imam Khamenei has declared is the honest and truthful justice to the people of Egypt, actually the social justice.

And the basic components of his speech that he delivered lately, last Friday -I heard the whole speech, it was a mosque speech actually at the Tehran University- the whole components were basically stressed on whether [there is] social justice towards the people of Islam, whether they are in northern Africa or in the Middle East or the whole Arab and Muslim world in the globe actually.

Now, regarding the revolution right now or the oppositionists on the streets in Cairo and other major cities against Mubarak, the whole situation is a bit different right now if we compare it with seven days ago.

The oppositionists are in a better shape right now, they are negotiating even if they were representatives by some of the oppositionists in order to negotiate with Vice President Omar Suleiman.

Now negotiations do not mean there's a concession by the opposition towards the regime of Mubarak and Omar Suleiman, headed by the vice president actually, or [that] he is the representative of Mubarak.

Now what we look forward is major points that need to be discussed as I read today, the first important point is to delete the emergency law which has been taking place since the 1980's by the regime of Mubarak.

The second important point here, and this will for sure make the people around the streets more comfortable, is to ask for a new election, law, and the new election can be perpetrated and activated within three months in case there was a consensus between the oppositions here inside Egypt and some kind of representation of the regime.

Because, the oppositionists, I don't feel like -- they will be headed towards division. People who are conceding they have been seen by the people on the streets -- towards negotiating Omar Suleiman and other people inside the regime and others who are on the major streets that do not believe that negotiating with the regime will let them take any options or will let them feel successful in the near future.

Now the option of having an interim government behind the opposition but really represented by them and maybe it's a bit better to chose a character, a political leader, inside Egypt which can be seen as a middle man between the regime and oppositionists in order to make all the Egyptians feel more comfortable towards the new election that can be undertaken within three months , I mean the main issue here is we need to amend the constitution , the article 76,77,78 , a new election law, a new interim government headed by a middle man or a man who has good reputation and should be non-corrupt, socially responsible and can be supported by the people on the streets or if they are in their own homes inside Egypt.

We need to look into details and important and visible options for the sake of the people of Egypt right now, especially in these days.

Press TV:You've talked about new election a lot that is needed in Egypt, and that is what people have demanded, constitutional reforms or changes… now what's wrong with it being Islamic if the Egyptian people want it? Who is afraid of this happening?

Salloum:Yes, this is a very good question, I wish that there could be an Islamic government but, the support by the west, specifically headed by the US, Britain and France and major powers in the Western European continent [will not allow this to happen].

Do not forget that this is a major pressure towards us, in the Middle East and towards the regime of Mubarak for them to not let a certain government headed by the Muslim Brotherhood because they believe this is a major change inside the Middle East this will create for sure another step towards a regional war between Egypt and Israel coming up in the future.