Cairo: Egypt's Islamist-dominated parliament yesterday voted for having 50 of its members on a 100-strong constituent assembly that will be tasked with writing a new constitution for the country.
The vote was conducted at a joint session of the two houses of the parliament here. The composition was suggested by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, that holds nearly half of the recently elected parliament. The party had previously proposed the constituent assembly be made of 40 members from within parliament and 60 from outside.
The Salafists hold 26 per cent of parliament seats, meaning that Islamists hold more than two thirds of the parliamentary seats.
Sa'ad Al Katatni, the speaker of legislature, said following the vote that the remaining 50 members of the panel would be selected from different institutions, civil society groups and public figures.
The approved composition is seen as giving Islamists a strong say in writing the new constitution that will determine the identity of the predominantly Muslim country and the future role of the army.
A junta has been ruling Egypt since February last year when a popular revolt forced president Hosni Mubarak to step down, as the military, led by Hussain Tantawi, pledged to transfer power to an elected civil administration by July.
