Coptic Church quits Egypt's constitution panel

Cairo: The Coptic Church has withdrawn from a controversial constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution for Egypt, calling the panel's make-up "disappointing".

The withdrawal, the latest in a series of resignations, further hurts the credibility of the 100-member panel dominated by Islamists.

"We are surprised that the formation of the constituent assembly came as disappointing although there are prominent experts on constitution among the Copts," the church said in a statement addressed to Egypt's military ruler Hussain Tantawi.

The statement, quoted by the official Middle East News Agency yesterday, followed a decision late Sunday by the Church to withdraw from the panel.

Copts account for the majority of Egypt's 10 million Christian minority who have expressed worries over the growing influence of Islamists since a popular revolt deposed Hosni Mubarak in February last year. Islamists hold more than two-thirds of the parliament.

Secret vote

More than 20 liberal and leftist members as well as Al Azhar, the prestigious Sunni institution, have already quit the panel.

Selected in a secret vote last month, the panel comprises 50 lawmakers while the other 50 members are picked from outside the parliament. Critics, however, say that Islamists make up the majority of the panel, thereby raising doubts about the content of the new constitution.

Opponents have held a series of protests outside parliament amid a threat to create a parallel constitution panel.

"The current formation of the assembly does not suit the sound philosophy for writing a constitution for Egypt," added the Church that urged the country's military rulers to "reconsider" the make-up of the panel so that it would "represent the whole spectrum" of Egyptians.

The military scrapped Egypt's constitution following Mubarak's overthrow.

Last week, the junta held talks with different political powers in a bid to end the deadlock that continues ahead of Egypt's crucial presidential polls next month.