Egypt committee focuses on enabling fair vote
CAIRO (Reuters) - A committee revising Egypt's constitution after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak is focusing on changes needed to guarantee democratic elections in six months, leaving a complete revamp for later, a committee member said on Sunday.
"A new constitution is a long-term goal. Let's first get the flaws out of the system to bring the process along. The say of the people is the most important factor in this process," lawyer Sobhi Saleh told Reuters in an interview.
Saleh is the only member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood on the 10-man committee given just 10 days by Egypt's new military rulers to propose amendments to the constitution.
The army council that took power when Mubarak stepped down as president on Feb. 11 has suspended the existing constitution, which made it almost impossible for anyone outside Mubarak's party to challenge for the presidency.
It formed the constitutional committee last Tuesday to draw up proposals that will be put to a referendum within two months.
"A new constitution is a long-term goal. Let's first get the flaws out of the system to bring the process along. The say of the people is the most important factor in this process," lawyer Sobhi Saleh told Reuters in an interview.
Saleh is the only member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood on the 10-man committee given just 10 days by Egypt's new military rulers to propose amendments to the constitution.
The army council that took power when Mubarak stepped down as president on Feb. 11 has suspended the existing constitution, which made it almost impossible for anyone outside Mubarak's party to challenge for the presidency.
It formed the constitutional committee last Tuesday to draw up proposals that will be put to a referendum within two months.
