The Shura Council's legislative committee on Tuesday agreed to amend a 1972 law governing parliamentary elections and a 1956 law regulating political participation.

The Shura Council, the upper house of Egypt's parliament, has been discussing the proposed changes to the two laws since they were referred to the committee by Egypt's cabinet. The council has said it had tentatively agreed to the amendments but needs additional time to discuss them in detail.

Deputy Justice Minister Judge Omar El-Sherif told Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news website that the changes would annul the president's longstanding right to appoint ten members of parliament and obliges all political parties to include female candidates in their respective electoral lists.

Egypt's newly approved constitution, endorsed via popular referendum last month, granted the Shura Council legislative authority until fresh parliamentary elections are held.

Before the new constitution was approved, President Mohamed Morsi had held legislative authority after the previous parliament was dissolved by court order.

Parliamentary polls are expected to take place within three months.