Egypt move on elections

IN a surprise reversal, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday ordered the constitution changed to allow challengers onto the ballot this Autumn, paving the way for the first-ever multiparty presidential elections in the world’s most populous Arab country.

An open election has long been a demand of the opposition but was repeatedly rejected by the ruling party, with Mr Mubarak only last month dismissing calls for reform as futile.