Cairo/ New York, Feb. 6: The campaign to oust the embattled Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, took a decisive turn on Monday as the regime and opposition groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, reached a deal to form a committee to study constitutional reform to pave for a democratic set up.
The talks came after 13 days of relentless street protests by Egyptians seeking an end to the 30-year rule of Mubarak and a transition towards a representative government.
The talks resulted in an agreement over the setting up of a committee comprising political and judicial figures to study possible constitutional amendments on putting term limits for presidential tenures, and defining rules for who can run for the presidency, state media said.
The committee has been asked to finish its task by the first week of March. There is no confirmation on this from the opposition camp.
There appeared no indication that Mr Mubarak would step down immediately as demanded by the thousands of protesters at Tahrir Square, who on Sunday observed ‘Day of Martyrs’.
The Vice-President, Mr Omar Suleiman, did not agree to an opposition proposal that the President's powers be transferred to him in line with a constitutional provision. The negotiators agreed to cutting down regulations on the media and to open an office of complaints over the issue of treatment of political prisoners.
The developments came even as the US and leading European nations threw their weight behind Mr Suleiman, backing his attempt to defuse the uprising without immediately removing Mr Mubarak.
American officials said Mr. Suleiman had promised them an “orderly transition” that would include constitutional reform and outreach to opposition groups. “That takes some time,” the US secretary of state, Ms Hilary Clinton said at Munich.
Mr Mohamed ElBaradei criticised the US approach in backing Mr Suleiman, saying it would be a “major setback” if Washington were to support either Mr Mubarak or Mr Suleiman.
The Opposition leader and diplomat said he was “not invited” to take part in Monday’s negotiations on the future of a post-Mubarak Egypt.