afrol News, 19 March - The Egyptian government's quest to push through constitutional laws expected to entrench the ruling party National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Hosni Mubarak to cling to power caused annoyance among the opposition deputies. Over 100 of them walked out of parliament in protest on Sunday.

As NDP holds numerical strength in the Egyptian parliament, MPs are expected to vote for the proposed amendments today. This then follows a referendum on the proposed constitutional changes early April.

The said amendment outlaws politics of religion as well as giving sweeping powers to security forces through an anti-terrorism clause, which mandates them to monitor privation communications.

Most people said the amendments sought to ban the country's largest opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood, from increasing its members in parliament, which eventually creates problems for the ruling party. The amendments would also give less power to judges to supervise elections.

For some, President Mubarak is embarking on moves so that his son, Gamal, may succeed him to the throne without encountering hurdles.

But the government defended its amendments, describing it as part of the political reforms, although rights activists considered it as the continuation of a severe erosion of human rights since 1981, when emergency laws were put in place after former President Anwar Sadat was assassinated.

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in parliament, Mohamed el-Katany, said the walk-out was done to show people that NDP members bear the responsibility.

While the session was going on, the aggrieved opposition members waived yellow banners, depicting the killing of free election and freedom in Egypt, protested outside the parliament.

Before walking out, an independent MP, Alaa Abdel-Moneim, told his colleagues in the ruling bench thus: "judgment day will be tough for you."

Abdel-Ahad Gamaleddin, the majority leader in parliament, blamed the opposition for what he called intellectual terrorism.

In a statement, a consortium of Egyptian politicians and intellectuals said the amendments seek to protect the interest of the Mubarak regime. "The amendments are aimed at facilitating the transmission of power in Egypt and turning the regime into a hereditary and dynastic monarchy," the statement read, adding that it was criminal to consolidate laws that seek to monopolise power and wealth of those who proposed and legislate them.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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