Mubarak moves towards reforms

CAIRO.
Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that President Hosni Mubarak took another step towards democratic reforms, as he approved a committee to oversee constitutional changes yesterday.
“The president signed a decree to form a commission which will be tasked to oversee constitutional and required legislative amendments,” Suleiman said on television, after briefing Mubarak on the outcome of the national dialogue meeting.
“The president also tasked the prime minister with forming a follow up committee to implement decisions taken by parties to the national dialogue,” he added.
The committee will wrap up its work by the end of February, Suleiman said, adding that Egypt has a timetable for a peaceful and organised transfer of power.
Omar Suleiman has begun discussion with opposition representatives including the Muslim Brotherhood to draw plans for the democratic transition.
Meanwhile, massive protests are rallying in Cairo’s central Downtown calling on the ouster of the president. Several groups occupied the Tahrir Square sleeping in tents or on the ground chanting “The people want the regime to fall.”
Various opposition movements formed a unified leadership to speak for demonstrators in the coming period, Al Masry Al Youm newspaper reported.
The coalition includes members of April 6 protest movement, the Muslim brotherhood’s youth wing, the Mohammed ElBaradei support group, the Young freedom and justice movement and the Democratic Front Party’s youth wing, it added.
Meanwhile, Mubarak ordered on Monday a                      committee to investigate into riots that took place between anti- and pro-government protesters                          last Wednesday, leaving 11 dead and nearly 900 injured.
The government also announced a 15 percent raise in monthly salaries and pensions for about six million public employees in an attempt to alleviate people’s outrage over the two weeks of protests.
Mubarak who ruled the country for 30 years pledged that he will not seek a new term, and he will stay until September’s presidential election in order to ensure stability in the country. — Xinhua.