Egypt backs constitutional change

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Egypt's parliament has approved a set of constitutional amendments despite a boycott by the opposition, which calls the changes a blow to democracy.

President Hosni Mubarak has billed the controversial measures as part of a reform package to increase democracy.

But almost a quarter of the 454-member parliament say they are a way for the president to maintain strict control.

The changes include a ban on the creation of political parties based on religion, and sweeping security powers.

The 34 amendments were passed with a vote of 315 and will now go to a referendum, which is expected by early April.

Basic freedoms

If approved, the changes will also allow the drafting of a new anti-terrorism law to replace the emergency legislation in place since 1981.

Opposition lawmakers say the changes will undermine basic rightsThey will ban the establishment of religious parties, allow the adoption of a new election law and do away with the need for judicial supervision of every ballot box.

President Mubarak and other government officials say the changes will give a boost to democratic practice in the country.

But the opposition, which includes the illegal but popular Muslim Brotherhood, says the changes will consolidate dictatorship.

They say that watering down judicial supervision of elections will make fraud easier.

They are also deeply uneasy about the wording of the articles on the new anti-terrorism law because it will be possible to bypass the constitutional guarantees protecting basic freedoms.

Human rights group Amnesty International has called the changes the greatest erosion of human rights in 26 years.