New Egyptian Constitution Frees Military from Civilian Oversight

Gives military final say on defense minister

Egypt's new draft constitution, approved by a 50-member assembly on Sunday night, will enshrine the freedom of the army from civilian oversight and give the military the final say over who is defence minister, as well as watering down many of the religious provisions in an earlier and now-obsolete version drafted by an Islamist-dominated panel.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the party of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, immediately rejected the draft constitution, calling it a "black document" made in the "dark shadows" and tailored to enhance the interests of a "junta". The constitution will now be handed over to Adli Mansour, the interim president, on Tuesday for the formality of signing.