22/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Elections in February, Mohammed Morsi supports presence of international observers. According to the leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda (Austria), Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi (whom Swoboda met in Cairo the weekend of 19-20 January) has said that he supports international and European observers coming for the legislative elections in February. “I pressed Morsi to accept international and European observers and am happy to report that he has announced his support for this suggestion”, Swoboda stated in a press release on 21 January. He also urged Morsi to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Stressing that the S&D Group criticised the irregular procedures around the new Egyptian constitution and some of the articles it contains, Swoboda said that “the priority now is to ensure free and fair elections which will give the critics of the constitution a chance to present their case”. (CG/transl.fl)