Egypt moves up election date

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top election official says voting for a new president will be brought forward from June, in line with demands by protesters. That could mean a new Egyptian constitution would be drawn up under a civilian government.


Election commission chief Abdel-Moez Ibrahim told the Egyptian daily Al Ahram did not set a date for the election, but he said nominations for presidency would be accepted March 10, a month earlier than the original date.


Thousands of Egyptians have been demonstrating, demanding that the military speed up the process of electing a new president.


The protesters charge the military has bungled the transition and adopted the repressive measures of the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.


The military has insisted on overseeing writing of a constitution before handing over power.