11 Apr 2012

Constitutional Commission suspended in Egypt

2:56 pm on 11 April 2012

A court in Egypt has suspended a commission set up to draft a new constitution.

The ruling is in response to complaints that the Commission is dominated by Islamists and does not reflect the diversity of Egyptian society.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the

Nour party, which dominate parliament, have a near-majority.

Women, young people and minorities are under-represented.

The Freedom and Justice Party said it would appeal against the decision by the Adminstrative Court in Cairo, describing it as "political".

The draft constitution is to be put to a referendum.