Egypt military wants oversight on constitution

CAIRO - Egypt's military rulers said Wednesday the next parliament will not be representative enough to independently oversee the drafting of a new constitution, and they will appoint a council to guide the process and protect it from the influence of religious extremists.

Egypt just completed the initial stage of the first elections since Hosni Mubarak's ouster in February, with Islamist groups seizing an overwhelming majority. In theory, the new parliament will be entrusted with forming a 100-member constituent assembly to write the new constitution.

However, liberals and the military are now concerned that religious extremists will exert too much influence over the process.

"The parliament is not representing all sectors of society," said Gen. Mukhtar Mulla, a member of the ruling military council that took power when Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising. He said the constitution must be representative of all of Egypt, and not just of the parliamentary majority.

Asked whether the new council is an attempt to limit the influence of ultraconservative Islamists known as Salafis, who won a quarter of the vote, Mulla said: "Absolutely. Not the (military council). The Egyptian people won't allow this to happen."

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The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic fundamentalist group that was the best known and organized party competing in the elections, came in first with 37 percent of the vote in the first round, according to partial official results. The Salafis' Al-Nour party took second with about 24 percent, giving the two leading Islamist blocks more than 60 percent combined, even though they might not form an alliance.

Mulla said the new council will coordinate with the parliament and the Cabinet to ensure that that the constituent assembly drafting the constitution is representative of all religions, professions, and political parties.

The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has tried to impose restrictions on membership in the 100-member drafting committee before. The Muslim Brotherhood challenged the move, and a strong showing by Islamists in the elections could boost its popular mandate to do so.

Mulla said the council won't dictate who will be part of the constituent assembly, suggesting an agreement would be reached to ensure the assembly is representative.

"I think no one will object to this demand. There will be standards agreed upon by all the Egyptian people," Mulla said.