Egypt rejects UN assistance in drafting new constitution

The Egyptian authorities have told the United Nations that they do not require the international body's help to draft the proposed new constitution. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amr Roshdy said that his country was grateful to the UN but had declined the offer of help. Addressing a press conference Cairo, Mr. Roshdy explained that his country has managed to write its constitutions for almost a century and has sufficient expertise and law schools to do the job again. Indeed, he said, many newly-independent countries have sought Egyptian assistance when drafting their own constitutions. Roshdy pointed out that the schedule adopted by the Egyptian government during the transitional period includes a national referendum on the new constitution. He stressed that this is a purely internal matter for the people of Egypt.