CAIRO, March 29 (UPI) -- A member of the Egyptian Parliament confirmed that the speaker was elected to lead the panel tasked with drafting a new constitution.
Egyptians lawmakers are taking steps to develop their post-revolutionary political system. The political landscape is dominated by Islamist parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party as well as al-Nour party.
Mohamed Omara, a member of the Egyptian Parliament, confirmed that Speaker Saad al-Katatny was elected the head of a constitutional assembly with a majority of the votes from the 100-member panel.
Some lawmakers withdrew, saying they would prefer the chairmanship go before a formal vetting committee, reports the Egyptian Independent news service.
The Muslim Brotherhood, in a statement, accused some Egyptian news services as launching a smear campaign against the group. The statements "falsely attributed to the Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Bureau claimed that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is intent on imposing a favorite presidential candidate and demands Cabinet quotas and privileges in the constitution."
The Muslim Brotherhood had said it wouldn't field a candidate in elections planned for later this year.
