BICOM

Field-Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt’s ruling military council, said yesterday that Egypt would abide by all previously signed agreements. He added that Egypt would continue to work toward a comprehensive and sustainable peace in the Middle East. Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979. Tantawi is currently acting as Egypt’s interim leader, in the run-up to new parliamentary and presidential elections, scheduled to take place in September/October. His statement came amid renewed and on-going unrest in Egypt. Demonstrators have returned to Tahrir Square, repeating the mass protests which forced the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. A number of opposition groups are demanding an increased pace of reforms and the resignation of the government. A new cabinet was sworn in last week, which contains the majority of the members of the previous cabinet formed by Mubarak.