Copts Withdraw From Egypt's Constitution Drafting Panel

The Financial Times reported yesterday that in Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church has decided to withdraw its representatives from the constitutional assembly that was appointed to draft a new constitution for the country. The Church General Council said that it had become pointless for the church to be represented. The decision by the Copts follows a similar withdrawal a few days earlier by al-Azhar, the highest Sunni religious authority, which also claimed it was being sidelined. The Copts are concerned that Islamists will dominate the constitution-drafting process and give religion a more central role in public life.  The fears of Islamist control were exacerbated last week end when the Muslim Brotherhood went back on its pledge not to run a candidate for president. (AP).