Egyptian Islamists say they have presented a formal request for permission to set up a political party.

The Al-Sharia or Islamic Law party is led by a former member of the group which assassinated the former Egyptian presidnet, Anwar Sadat in l98l.

The leader, Mamdouh Ismail, is now a lawyer who says he is trying to promote his views through peaceful means.

A BBC correspondent Cairo says that Egypt's Islamists are currently re-evaluating their tactics.

She says that the massacre of 58 tourists in Luxor nearly two years ago provoked public revulsion, and a tough response from the security forces.

But she adds that their request to the government is almost certain to be rejected - religious parties are banned in Egypt.