Egypt parties end deadlock

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Political parties in Egypt have agreed on how to select the 100-member panel that will write the country's new constitution, ending weeks of deadlock.

A deal was reached after talks between representatives of 22 parties and the head of the ruling military council.

Panel members from the parliament are expected to be elected next week.

The previous panel was suspended by a court after liberals and secularists walked out, saying it did not reflect the diversity of Egyptian society.

The constituent assembly will now include a range of politicians, members of the armed forces, the police, the judiciary and trade unions, as well as Muslim and Coptic Christian religious leaders.

The agreement came after the military council set a 48-hour deadline on Tuesday, threatening to propose an arrangement themselves if a deal was not reached.

BBC News