Egyptian Army Sets Reform Deadline

The military is trying to quell strikes and protests still being held

 around the country.

Egypt's ruling military council has announced that work on reforming the country's constitution is to be completed in 10 days. A committee led by a retired judge has been tasked with proposing legal changes, said the council. It earlier suspended the current constitution, which was amended during ousted President Hosni Mubarak's tenure to strengthen his grip on power. Mr Mubarak stepped down last week after more than two weeks of protests.

The higher military council - which assumed power after Mr Mubarak stepped down - said on Tuesday that the amended constitution would be put to a popular referendum. The eight-member committee is mostly made up of experts in constitutional law but it includes a senior figure from the opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood. It is headed by Tariq el-Bishri, considered one of Egypt's top legal minds, and on Tuesday held its opening meeting with Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi. The committee is instructed to "amend all articles as it sees fit to guarantee democracy and the integrity of presidential and parliamentary elections".  It looks as if the military council is fulfilling its pledge to hand the country back to civilian rule as quickly as possible.

Tahrir Square, the focus of protests in Cairo, has largely returned to normal The speed of the move will reassure the opposition, he says, although there might be some nervousness about whether it is an attempt to push through changes in too much of a rush.  The military council has also repeated its calls for an end to strikes that spread across the country during Sunday and Monday. The stoppages are dealing a further blow to Egypt's ailing economy, damaged by three weeks of unrest.

Meanwhile, Mr Mubarak, 82, is reported to be in poor health in his residence in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. In his final speeches to the nation, Mr Mubarak said that he would die in Egypt. He has not been seen in public since stepping down.