A constitutional reform committee will be set up in Egypt after talks between Egypt’s newly appointed vice-president Omar Suleiman and members of the opposition including Mohamed El Barradei and Muslim Brotherhood officials took place on 6 February.

The committee will be made up of judiciary and political figures to study constitutional amendments and will present the proposals within one month. Suleiman has also agreed to allow freedom of the press and to release protestors detained since the demonstrations began on 25 January.

Speaking in Munich US secretary of state Hillary Clinton says: “Across the region there must be clear and real progress toward open, transparent, fair and accountable systems…this is not simply idealism, it is a strategic necessity.”

“There are risks with the transition to democracy, it can be chaotic and can cause short-term instability. The transitions can back-slide into just another authoritarian regime,” she adds.