Egyptian army to amend election rules

Egyptian political parties were yesterday considering concessions offered by the military in response to their demand for changes to election rules that would stop former allies of deposed President Hosni Mubarak from being elected.

The army council said it would amend a law banning parties from fielding candidates as independents and set a clearer timetable for a move to civilian rule. The concessions came the day before a deadline set by the parties, which had threatened to boycott the polls unless the army changed the election law to allow them to field candidates on party lists.

Mr Mubarak's former allies have been spurned by most parties, leaving them few options to get re-elected to parliament other than running as independents. AP