in Egypt CAIRO, Egypt, Dec 26, SPA -- President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday pledged to improve democracy in Egypt and abolish the 25-year state of emergency once a new anti-terrorism law is passed. Laying out the legislative agenda for 2007, Mubarak toldlawmakers he would soon ask them to amend 34 articles in the Egyptian constitution to «consecrate the people'ssovereignty as a source of power and give parliament more authority to monitor the government.» «Today's historic step opens the door wide for democracy and its practice,» Mubarak said in a speech at his palace in Cairo, the Associated Press reported. «Democracy is not merely a matter of constitutional orlegislative texts. It is a culture and practice, and I callon you to take additional steps to consecrate democracy and employ it as a cultural phenomenon,» the president said to lawmakers.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/413962