Egypt's Mubarak defends constitutional changes

By Jonathan Wright

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak defended on Saturday two controversial aspects of constitutional amendments which will go to referendum on Monday, saying Egypt needed to avert the dangers of sectarianism and terrorism.

His foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, earlier on Saturday dismissed U.S. criticism of the amendments, which human rights organisations and the main opposition groups have called a step away from freedom and democracy.

The amendments will enshrine in the constitution a ban on parties based on religion and will give the authorities wide powers of arrest, surveillance and trial in special courts.

Analysts say the main target is the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement which emerged as the country's largest opposition force in 2005 elections and which opposes any attempt to install Mubarak's son Gamal as the next president.

In a speech in the southern city of Assiut, Mubarak said the ban on religious parties was meant to prevent strife between Egyptian Muslims and the Christian minority, which accounts for about 10 percent of the population.

"I was aware of the constant attempts to cause divisions between the Muslims of the country and its Copts (Christians), wary of the sectarian and secessionist strife which countries dear to us have seen," he added, apparently referring to Iraq.

"I have learnt ... the dangers of mixing religion with politics and politics with religion. The constitutional amendments ... should prevent any trading in religion and attempts to strike at the unity of this country," he added.

The Muslim Brotherhood has tried to reassure the country's Copts that it would not make any changes in their status. It notes that Islam is already the religion of the state.