Mubarak postpones local elections

CAIRO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reportedly has decided to postpone April's local elections by two years.

Mubarak's allies told The New York Times the postponement would give time to enact a new law for greater decentralization.

The Times reported the move also was seen as attempt to block the banned Muslim Brotherhood from promoting an independent candidate for president in 2011. The brotherhood is raising concerns after it made significant gains in the recent parliamentary elections.

In Washington, a State Department spokesman said, "We were concerned by the reports and are in touch with the Egyptian government to ascertain the facts."