Egypt’s army makes committee to amend constitution : Report

CAIRO - Egypt’s armed forces council has formed a 10-member committee to oversee the amendments to the constitution, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

A representative of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, law professors and judges were among those elected to the committee, according to the independent al-Shorouk newspaper.

The committee is expected to convene for the first time later Tuesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. Further meetings are scheduled for later this week at the Ministry of Justice.

It is tasked with making amendments to the constitution to ensure term limits on the presidency, expand the definition of can run for president and remove a counter-terrorism article that could pave the way for abolishing emergency law, which has been in place for nearly 30 years.

The Higher Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces suspended the constitution after it took over control of the country when Hosni Mubarak stepped down as president last week.

Mubarak’s resignation came after nationwide protests calling for him to step down and for constitutional reform.