Two of Egypt's most prominent youth groups walked out of a conference of national dialogue, saying members of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's party were using the meeting to try to return to political life. Many Egyptians fear members of the National Democratic Party (NDP), which ruled Egypt during Mubarak's 30-year rule, are trying to regain power after a court ordered the party dissolved in April.
The April 6 Youth group and the Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution have called for mass demonstrations on Friday in what they billed a "second revolution" to press Egypt's military rulers to speed up political reforms and accelerate the trials of Mubarak and his aides.
"The movement withdrew ... as a response to the presence of some leaders from the deposed NDP as well as prominent figures from the previous regime," the April 6 Youth group said on its website www.6april.org. The Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution issued a similar statement on the state's news website www.egynews.net. The three-day conference was organised by the government of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf as part of efforts to draft a new constitution and to prepare for elections later in 2011.
Political parties from across the spectrum and independent activists and thinkers attended the conference, which began on Sunday in northern Cairo. The youth groups complain that not much has changed since Mubarak was toppled on February 11. They are demanding the government cracks down on corruption in state institutions and ensures Mubarak and his family and aides are put on trial.