The Egyptian Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, today convened to discuss the new amendments to law governing the People's Assembly and the Shura Council. The law was passed to the Council from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Absent from the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance Hazem al-Beblawy, who is currently in Washington, and Deputy Prime Minister for Political Development and Democratization Ali el-Selmi, who is being treated in London. Also absent were Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Faiza Aboul Naga, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Kamel Amr and Minister of Higher Education Moataz Khurshid. The Council will also discuss the security and economic conditions in Egypt, and will receive a briefing from the Minister of Education on the latest developments on the ongoing teachers' strike.