WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Bush administration reacted cautiously to the proposal by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to amend the Constitution to allow multiparty elections, the New York Times said in a report on Sunday.

    "This appears to be a step in the direction of a more open political system, and we welcome it," the report quoted an unnamed State Department official as saying.

    At the same time, however, US officials said they wanted more information from Egypt before deciding how meaningful the move might be.

    "We have to see the details of the referendum. We are hopeful, but until we know exactly what the government is embracing, it is too early to declare that it is a major change," the report quoteda senior administration official as saying.

    Among the details that are as yet unclear whether opposition candidates will be able to campaign freely, whether the state-controlled media will be permitted to cover all the candidates equally, whether the government will allow rallies in support of opposition candidates and whether international election monitors will be allowed, the report said.

    Mubarak said Saturday he had proposed to the parliament that the constitution be amended to allow more than one candidate to stand in the presidential race.

    In a speech carried live on the Egyptian TV, Mubarak said, "Outof keenness on going on with the path of reforms and expanding freedom, I have asked this morning the People's Assembly and ShuraCouncil to amend Article 76 of the Egyptian constitution pertaining to the way a president of the republic is selected."

    Under Egypt's current political system, the president is not elected directly by the electorate. Instead, the parliament chooses a sole candidate first and then the only nominee is put toa referendum. Enditem