Minister of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils Mofeed Shehab said the government will offer a draft law on combating terrorism for a social dialogue.

After this social dialogue, the draft law will be crystallized in its final text by the cabinet and then it will be referred to the parliament, Shehab added.

The minister was speaking at a meeting on democracy and citizenship at the 9th conference of the National Democratic Party Sunday evening.

The draft law will be restricted to combating terrorism, Shehab made it clear.

Guarantees will be provided to realise this goal, including a clear-cut definition of terrorism, he added.

Shehab reiterated the NDP's adherence to public freedoms.

Meantime, Shehab said the government will submit a draft law to the parliament to amend the law on professional associations.

Addressing a session on citizenship and democracy at the 9th congress of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Shehab said the number of members required to hold the general assembly of a professional association is still large.

The number will be reduced at the first meeting and then the new number will be further reduced at the second meeting to facilitate holding the general assembly, Shehab added.

If the quorum was not reached, a new meeting would be held at a lower percentage, he pointed out, adding that should this fail, the old board would be empowered to run the association.

5/11/2007