Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Fathi Sorour referred Tuesday 6/3/2007 a report by the parliament's Legislative Committee on the proposed constitutional amendments to the Shura Council.

The Shura Council convenes later on Wednesday to discuss the committee's report.

Sorour said that the Legislative Committee would hold another meeting on March 13 to discuss a Shura Council's report on the amendments.

Afterwards, a final report would be referred to the People's Assembly for final approval.

"The representatives of the Egyptian people in parliament have the final say over these amendments," Sorour told the meeting of the Legislative Committee.

Sorour said the amendments to article 179, which is related to anti-terror combat, will not restrict personal freedoms.

He also said the judiciary would supervise the entire phases of future elections through an ad hoc committee of former and incumbent judges with guarantees of independence and fairness.

The Legislative Committee finalised Tuesday the draft of 34 articles to be amended.

Al-Wafd opposition party rejected the new amendments, calling them a "step backward."

Al-Wafd leader Mahmoud Abaza sent an official letter to Sorour Tuesday, outlining the rationale behind rejecting the constitutional amendments.

Independents were divided over articles 88 and 179, which have to do with judicial supervision and anti-terror combat respectively