El-Sherif: Mubarak to announce decision on running for Presidency after approving Constitution amendement

"President Hosni Mubarak will announce his decision on running for the coming presidential elections after a referendum on the amendment of Article 76 of the Constitution allowing multi-candidate presidential elections," said Safwat Al-Sherif, Egypt's Secretary General of the National Democratic Party yesterday.

The referendum will be held in May this year, he pointed out. This, Sherif said, testifies to the fact that Mubarak respects constitutional rules and in so doing, introduces an important Constitutional principle.

The remarks were made by Sherif at a meeting with women participating in a training course for NDP women members. He underlined the importance of rules and regulations governing the presidential elections with a view to preventing any violations.

He further noted that such rules and regulations should not be restrictive, but rather deterrent to any mal practices. A judicial-political committee will be overseeing the elections, said Sherif. Moreover, Political parties resumed yesterday their meetings, tackling amendments to party laws.

The parties are expected to form an adhoc committee to supervise the coming parliamentary elections, amend party laws, including measures of establishing parties.

The meeting was run by Secretary General of the National Democratic Party Safwat El-Sherif.