Statements by President Bush's nominee for ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey on her intention to pressure Egypt to step up political reforms and to free former leader of the oppositionist Al-Ghad party Ayman Nour have sparked criticism in the Egypt.

Six Egyptian MPs have called for an urgent meeting of the parliamentary foreign relations committee in order to condemn Scobey's statements and to demand that her nomination be withdrawn.

Source: Al-Gumhouriyya, Egypt, February 9, 2008