On the new constitutional change in Egypt

The Egyptian parliament on Tuesday approved at a great majority the amendment of the constitution in order to permit more than one candidate in the presidential elections and by direct vote for the first time in Egypt's history.

The amendment was approved by 405 members among 454 with three abstainers and the opposition of 51 members representing the Muslim Brothers movement and the independents and the opposition parties.

Earlier, the Egyptian parliament discussed a formula for a constitutional amendment that permits more than one candidates for the post of the State head amid a rejection of this formula by political parties and forces say it included difficult conditions that in practice would make difficult the inclusion of multiple candidates.

Just hours after the Egyptian parliament approved constitutional amendments allowing multiple candidates in the election of the President, the Egyptian opposition movement Kefayah (enough) called on the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to quickly quit and accelerate reforms.

The movement also called for boycotting the referendum on the constitutional amendment and the elections due to be held in September.