CAIRO - Egyptian political activists plan to stage a demonstration outside the Parliament on Thursday to protest against alleged fraud in the recent election of the Shura Council (the Upper House of the Parliament), according to organisers. The demonstration, which will include members of Mohamed ElBaradei's National Coalition for Change, will coincide with the new session of the Shura Council after its mid-term elections. President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday decreed the appointment of 44 members in the advisory Council. The appointed members include eight Christians, one incumbent Government minister, academics and several opposition leaders. The appointments come more than two weeks after the advisory council had its mid-term election. Mubarak's National Democratic Party swept the elections grabbing 80 out of 88 seats up for grabs. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's biggest-yet-banned Islamist opposition power, won no seat. Under the Egyptian constiution, the head of the state has the right appoint 88 members at the Shura Council, set up by late President Anwar el-Sadat.
