CAIRO: Egypt's disputed constitution
has received a "yes'' majority of
more than 70% in the second and
final round of voting on the
referendum, according to
preliminary results released early
Sunday by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The results, posted on the
Brotherhood's website, show that
71.4% of those who voted Saturday
said "yes'' after 95.5% of the ballots
were counted. Only about eight of
the 25 million Egyptians eligible to
vote, a turnout of about 30%, cast
their ballots.
The referendum on the Islamist-
backed charter was held over two
days, on December 15 and 22. In the
first round, about 56% said "yes'' to
the charter. The turnout then was
about 32%.
The Brotherhood, from which
Islamist President Mohamed Morsi
hails, has accurately predicted
election results in the past by tallying
results provided by its
representatives at polling centers.
Official results would not be
announced for several days. When
they are, Morsi is expected to call for
the election of parliament's
lawmaking, lower chamber no more
than two months later.
The low turnout in both rounds is
likely to feed a perception of
illegitimacy for the constitution,
which Islamists say will lay the
foundation for a democratic state
and the protection of human rights.
The opposition charges that it places
restrictions on liberties and gives
clerics a say over legislation.
The referendum on the constitution
has opened divisions in Egypt that
are not likely to disappear any time
in the near future. Hurriedly adopted
by Morsi's Islamist allies, the charter
has left Egypt divided into two
camps: The president, his
Brotherhood and ultraconservative
Islamists known as Salafis in one, and
liberals, moderate Muslims and
Christians in the other.
The two sides brought hundreds of
thousands of supporters to the streets
over the past month in rival rallies.
Clashes between the two sides left at
least 10 people dead and hundreds
wounded.
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