Egypt parliament appoints panel to draw up new constitution

The Egyptian parliament has selected a 100-member committee to draw up the country's new constitution to replace the one of the former regime, which has been annulled by the ruling military. The constitution will determine the balance of power between Egypt's previously all-powerful president and parliament. It will also define the political role of the military, which took over after the fall of the long-reigning former dictator, Hosni Mubarak, in a popular revolution last year. The military has tasked the panel to finish its work before the presidential elections due in May. The Liberal lawmakers, however, denounced the process as a ‘farce’ and walked out in protest as they have a rift with the Islamic parties over the constituent assembly’s make-up. Islamic parties have dominated the parliament after landslide victories in elections a few months ago.