FJP Approves Plan For Egypt’s Constitutional Committee

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party signed off on a proposal for the framework of a committee that will write Egypt’s new constitution, the state- run Middle East News Agency reported today, citing the FJP’s spokesman Ahmed Sabei.

Sabei said that some other groups such as the Free Egyptians Party and the Social Democrats had reservations about the proposed plan, and withdrew from the meeting that ended in the early hours of the morning, MENA reported. The FJP’s spokesman said he believed those differences would be addressed after a planned meeting between the political groups and the ruling military council today.

The military warned the groups on June 5 that it would act unilaterally if they didn’t reach an agreement within 48 hours. The parties had been wrestling with the committee’s composition since a court shot down an earlier version. Smaller groups have accused the FJP, which makes up the largest single bloc in parliament, and other Islamists of seeking to dominate the body.