Civilian council Live Blog

A civilian council appointed to advise Egypt's military rulers has said preparations for a presidential election should begin on February 23, a step that would bring forward the presidential election from an expected June date.

The recommendation from the advisory body was a response to a week of violence that has heaped new criticism on the rule of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) which assumed power from Hosni Mubarak a year ago, reports the Reuters news agency. 

The advisory council said formal nominations for the presidency should be accepted starting February 23, nearly two months sooner than the April 15 date previously announced by authorities.