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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Egypt president will modify parliament election dates - speaker

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi will modify the dates of upcoming parliamentary elections after requests from Christian lawmakers to change them, the speaker of parliament's upper house said on Saturday.

Members of the Coptic Christian minority had objected to the election dates Mursi announced on Thursday, as some voting would be held during their Easter celebrations.

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi attends a news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul (not pictured) after their meeting at Presidential Palace "Qasr Al Quba" in Cairo February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi attends a news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul (not pictured) after their meeting at Presidential Palace "Qasr Al Quba" in Cairo February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

"The president answered the requests of the Coptic members and will issue a statement changing the dates of the elections," Ahmed Fahmy, the speaker of the Shura Council, told lawmakers. He did not say when Mursi would make an announcement.

(Reporting by Alexander Dziadosz)


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