Re: The U.S. exploits all events to their own purposes.

I've heard various reports of reporters being attacked, some were imprisoned, but all have been released.

I hope the reporter that was attacked, makes a full recovery, it takes a brave person to go into the midst of a large mob, simply to do her job.

It seems as though the people of Egypt are going to get their constitutional reforms, it will be interesting to watch the outcome of this process.

spud

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/16/3139846.htm


Egypt's junta names panel to reform constitution

Updated Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:12am AEDT
Egyptians make their voices heard

Egyptian workers have begun testing the bounds of their new freedom with strikes. (Reuters: Suhaib Salem )


Egypt's military regime warned a wave of strikes sweeping the country was "disastrous," as it gave a panel of civilian experts 10 days to revise the constitution.

Against a backdrop of persistent nationwide walkouts and street protests, the junta promised to rapidly restore constitutional rule following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak's regime.

The committee is headed by Tareq al-Bishri, a respected former judge, and includes jurists and constitutional experts from a broad cross-section of communities.

Opposition members have been told there will be a referendum on the new constitution within two months, though that has yet to be officially announced.

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces instructed the committee to "amend all articles as it sees fit to guarantee democracy and the integrity of presidential and parliamentary elections."

The military took power when Mr Mubarak's near 30-year rule was brought to an end by an 18-day street revolt. Since then, Egyptian workers have begun testing the bounds of their new freedom with strikes.

On Sunday, the military suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament, but it has promised to oversee a six-month transition to democratic rule. It urged strikers to return to work but stopped short of ordering them to do so.

The constitutional panel got straight down to work.

"The armed forces want to hand over power as soon as possible. They want amendments to the constitution," said panel member Sobhi Saleh, a lawyer and former lawmaker from Islamist opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood.

"We are revising the constitution to remove all restrictions and obstacles, and to meet the aspirations of the revolution's and the people's demands."

The strikes and protests abated on Tuesday, as Egyptians marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, but threaten to flare again as people use their new-found freedom to press long-suppressed grievances.

The central bank decided to keep banks closed until at least Sunday and the stock exchange also stayed shut.

The Muslim Brotherhood - banned but broadly tolerated under Mr Mubarak - confirmed it plans to form an official political party to contest promised parliamentary elections.

The group has triggered concerns in the West and among some of its secular rivals, who fear it may come to power through free elections only to then implement Islamic law in the most populous Arab country.

Brotherhood leaders adamantly reject such a scenario, insisting it supports the broader demands of the pro-democracy protesters and seeks a more open multi-party system.

US president Barack Obama said the transition underway in Egypt was a model for autocratic Middle Eastern allies and encouraged the Iranian people to press their quest for democracy after protests on Monday in which two people died.

Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Abul Gheit, said the economy was "severely affected by the political crisis that has shaken the country" and called for international aid.

Egypt's protest movement, which was inspired by the ouster of Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has in turn triggered anti-government demonstrations around the Middle East, from Algeria to Bahrain and Yemen, as well as Iran.

- AFP Tweet