Official sources close to the Egyptian presidency revealed to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper Thursday that President Mohamed Morsi would announce the names of the remaining third of the Shura Council Friday, before the second stage of the referendum on the constitution Saturday.

According to the sources, Morsi will complete the membership of the upper chamber of the parliament so he can transfer legislative powers to the Shura Council until People's Assembly elections are conducted within two months of passing the new constitution.

Two thirds of the Shura Council were elected in February. The then-ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) refused to appoint the remaining third, leaving it to an elected president.

The Shura Council is composed of 270 members, one third appointed by the president according to law. In Shura Council elections held earlier this year, the Freedom and Justice Party — the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood — won 58.8 per cent of the seats while Salafist El-Nour Party won 25.5 per cent.