Draft constitutional amendments and a travel ban on Mubarak

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has passed a draft of constitutional amendments to be approved by a national referendum. Under the proposed changes, the president would only be able to sever two four-year terms, not unlimited six year periods as it was under Hosni Mubarak.

The Council has requested that a panel of experts put forth prospective constitutional amendments to aid democratic reforms. The amendments suggested reinstating judicial oversight of the elections.

The changes are to be presented before a national referendum ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, expected to be held in a matter of months. The amendments represent some of the demands made by the Egyptian opposition, including the limitation of presidential powers. The panel of experts have taken this into account by stipulating that a future president will be obligated to appoint a deputy.

Other changes would make it easier for individuals to run for presidency, and harder for the leader to maintain the state of emergency.

In other related news, Egypt's public prosecutor has issued a travel ban on Mubarak and his family. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said that the order also stipulated that all money and assets belonging to Mubarak and family are to be frozen.

Sources: BBC News, Bikya Masr , Aljazeera

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