Mubarak's Cabinet approves canceling state security courts, setting up rights council

Egypt's cabinet, at a meeting on Wednesday under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, approved two draft laws.

"The first draft law addressed the rescinding of law No. 105 for 1988 on setting up state security courts, and the second bill was pertaining to setting up a national council for human rights," said Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif after the meeting.

"The cabinet referred the two draft laws to President Hosni Mubarak after amendments recommended by the cabinet before being referred to the People's Assembly and Shura Council for debate," he added.

Al-Sherif said that the two draft laws represent an initiative by the National Democratic Party (NDP) and were approved by the cabinet.

He added that the cabinet reviewed the NDP paper which contains its initiative in the field of achieving political reform in Egypt and raising the philosophy to which the party was committed during the 8th congress held in September 2002.