Egypt banks and pyramids open as some protest in Cairo

>CAIRO (Reuters) - Banks opened on Sunday after a week-long closure as Egypt's economy, damaged by the political turmoil caused by the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and subsequent labor protests, struggled to get back on its feet. New military rulers watched closely as many Egyptians resumed their jobs on the first day of the working week, after effectively banning labor protests and telling workers to abandon their revolutionary fervor.The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the pyramids at Giza were among tourist sites that were reopened to the public for the first time in some three weeks. Egypt's lucrative tourist sector was dealt a body blow as foreigners stayed away due to unrest.There were some pockets of protest in Cairo.The military, trying to placate pro-democracy reformers who want swift change, said at the weekend that constitutional changes permitting elections in six months should be ready soon and the hated emergency law would be lifted before the polls."A new constitution is a long-term goal. Let's first get the flaws out of the system to bring the process along," one expert on a key constitutional change committee said. "The say of the people is the most important factor in this process."The new military rulers were also facing their first foreign policy test on Sunday with two Iranian naval vessels about to sail through the Suez Canal, causing grave concern in Israel.In a difficult decision, the military approved the Iranian ships' passage.

">CAIRO (Reuters) - Banks opened on Sunday after a week-long closure as Egypt's economy, damaged by the political turmoil caused by the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and subsequent labor protests, struggled to get back on its feet"Cairo is a US ally, was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel and has had strained relations with Iran for more than three decades.Egyptians generally respect the 470,000-strong military, which played a key role in the downfall of Mubarak by not intervening, but some mistrust its intentions in reshaping a corrupt and oppressive system which it supported for decades.A court at the weekend approved a new political party that had sought a license for 15 years, making it the first to be recognized since Mubarak's overthrow and illustrating the political earthquake shaking the new Egypt.The Wasat Party (Center Party), set up by a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, had tried to gain an official license four times since 1996, but each time its application was rejected by a political parties committee chaired by a leading member of the ruling party, a procedure that stifled opposition.Washington is watching with discomfort the increasingly important role the Brotherhood is playing in politics in the new Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation.The Brotherhood, easily the best-organized group, says it might win 30 percent of the vote in an election. It has a member on the constitution committee, a member on a Council to protect the revolution and wants to register as a political party.Any sign the army is reneging on its promises of democracy and civilian rule could reignite mass protests, and newly empowered political voices are urging the army to proceed quickly with democracy and to free political prisoners.Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, also reaching out to reformists, said 222 political prisoners would soon be freed. 1 2 Next World Turkey Natural Disasters Egypt Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints