Though the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which seized power with Mr Mubarak's exit, has repeatedly pledged to uphold the goals of the revolution, many in the opposition have questioned the army's willingness to submit to a civilian democracy. The Guardian reported that some in the opposition fear the military is trying to develop a system that looks ''vaguely democratic but in reality just entrenches their own privileges'' after six decades of military-backed strongmen.

On Tuesday, however, several opposition figures said they felt heartened. ''The move to appoint the panel is the first concrete thing the army has done since taking over,'' said Hossam Bahgat, a prominent civil rights lawyer and Mubarak critic. ''We have only had communiques.''

The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Sobhi Saleh, an Alexandria lawyer and former MP who is a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. The Mubarak government repeatedly portrayed Mr Saleh as an extremist. He has espoused views such as advocating a ban on public kissing, and was recently released from an intelligence prison.