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Egypt's Mubarak Calls for Multi-party Presidential Elections


In a historic move, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ordered the constitution changed to allow more than one candidate to run for president.

Mr. Mubarak told the nation in a televised address Saturday that he has called for the constitutional amendment in time for the September presidential election. He is widely expected to run for a fifth term.

The current system allows parliament to choose a single presidential candidate who is then approved or rejected by voters in a referendum.

Mr. Mubarak has been under increasing opposition pressure, and from the United States, to change the long-standing system. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has postponed next week's scheduled trip to Egypt in part to protest the arrest of a prominent opposition figure in January.

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