CAIRO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front (NSF), decided to launch a campaign to urge Egyptians to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Front said in a statement Tuesday.
The NSF statement also condemned the recent violent clashes between protesters and security men in some Egyptian governorates, especially in the seaside governorate of Port Said, that killed at least six and injured over 500.
The NSF has previously decided to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections to take place on April 22 and not to take part in the national dialogue sponsored by President Mohamed Morsi, arguing that "we cannot run for parliamentary elections without a fair election law and an unbiased government."
The NSF demands sacking the current government before the parliamentary elections, accusing it of being Islamist-dominated and biased.
In response, Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Qandil said Tuesday that "the current government is not a stumbling block to the upcoming parliamentary elections," stressing the election commission that will run the polls is completely independent.
The NSF, which includes more than 30 parties and political movements with liberal and leftist orientation, warned in the statement of the continued bloodshed in Port Said, Daqahliya, Cairo and Gharbiya, saying that the performance of the ruling party only serves the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB).
The statement urged the administration to consider the suffering of the Egyptian people, calling for forming a committee to amend the constitution immediately, particularly the elections law.
Meanwhile, the Independence Current, which also includes several parties, announced Tuesday it would adopt a new plan to support the popular boycott of the elections.
However, Essam al-Erian, a Shura Council (upper house of the parliament) member and vice president of the MB's Freedom and Justice Party, called for taking part in the elections and joining "the train of the popular will."
Erian said on his Facebook page "those who fear democracy and avoid free elections won't succeed in frightening the people."
Registration for the parliamentary elections will start on March 9, while the elections will be held in four stages from April 22 to June 24.
In Cairo, Utras Ahlawy Groups, an Egyptian group of Cairo-based football fans, gathered Tuesday outside the house of former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim. Protesters hurled fireballs and smashed windows of the minister's house who headed police in February 2012 when a deadly football riot in Port Said claimed 74 lives.
Clashes also broke out Tuesday near the iconic Tahrir Square in Cairo between police and demonstrators, who gathered for the funeral of political activist Mohamed el-Shafee, who was killed during protests in January.
In Port Said, which witnesses its third week of general unrest, fresh clashes broke out between police and protesters as well, which left 154 people injured, Helmy el-Hefny, deputy of health ministry in Port Said, told Xinhua.
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