20120227
AFP
Egypt's ruling military called on the recently elected parliament and senate to convene on March 3 to form a panel to draft a new constitution, state television reported on Sunday.

The constitution will replace the one suspended by the ruling generals after they assumed power following an uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak a year ago.

Islamists, who won a majority in both houses, with the results for the senate election declared on Saturday, are believed to want to dominate the panel, which has placed them at odds with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

The military, which has suggested it would like the new constitution to give it privileges after it hands the reins of government to an elected president this year, has promised to allow parliament to appoint the panel.

But both the SCAF and liberals are believed to want to influence the criteria for constitutional panel members, to ensure that it is not dominated by any one group.