Egyptian People's Assembly, the lower house of parliament, passed on Tuesday a constitutional amendment to allow more than one candidate to stand in the presidential elections for the first time in Egypt.

Speaker Fathi Sorour announced that the amendment to Article 76 of the constitution was endorsed by 405 of the 454 members of People's Assembly. It needed at least a two-thirds majority, or 303 votes, to pass.

On Sunday, Egypt's advisory upper house of parliament or the Shura Council approved the amendment, which will later be put to a referendum for final approval ahead of September's presidential polls.

Under the amendment, leaders of the recognized political parties can run for the coming presidential elections, but independent candidates must get the backing of 250 members of the parliament and local councils, including at least 65 members of the People's Assembly.

In late February, President Mubarak proposed to change the constitution to allow more candidates to stand in the presidential race instead of a single presidential candidate chosen by the parliament and put to a national referendum for approval.

Mubarak, 76 and in power since 1981, has not yet said if he will seek a fifth six-year term.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)