Egypt parliamentary elections to start on November 28

Egypt’s parliamentary election, the first since a revolt ousted president Hosni Mubarak in February, will start on November 28, the official MENA news agency reported on Tuesday.

“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has set November 28 as the start of the first stage of the parliamentary election, which will be held over three rounds,” it reported.

Senate elections will follow starting on January 29, the agency quoted a military official as saying.

The announcement comes after the caretaker cabinet voted on amending a contentious law under which two thirds of parliament will be elected through a proportional representation system and the rest via a simple majority.

More than two dozen political parties have rejected the electoral law, saying it could help return old regime figures to parliament.

Meanwhile Al Arabiya television reported that Egypt’s presidential elections are expected to be held at the end of 2012 or start of 2013, a delay in the vote that is likely to frustrate some activists who want a swift transfer of power from the army.

One presidential candidate, Amr Moussa, said this month he and others seeking to run wanted a vote in February or March.

“It is expected that the presidential election will be postponed to the end of 2012 or the start of 2013,” Al Arabiya’s correspondent told the channel, adding that the date of the election would be announced soon in a decree from the military council.

Army officials were not immediately available for comment.