Egyptian officials say voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitution drafted by the military-installed government and boycotted by the opposition.
The Interior Ministry said on Wednesday preliminary results showed that 95 percent of participants approved the draft.
"Turnout so far may exceed 55 percent and the approval of the constitution is perhaps more than 95 percent," Major General Abdel Fattah Othman, director of public relations for the ministry, told private satellite channel Al-Hayat.
The result could pave the way for the army chief to announce his candidacy for president.
The two-day referendum which ended on Wednesday evening was marred by violent clashes between security forces and protesters.
At least 11 people were killed and nearly 450 people, mostly Muslim Brotherhood supporters, were also arrested in the past two days.
The official results of the constitutional referendum are expected to be announced on Sunday.
Some 53 million Egyptians were eligible to vote in the referendum. If passed, the constitution will replace the country’s previous one, approved under former President Mohamed Morsi in December 2012.
A coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood has boycotted the vote on the constitution and called on the Egyptians to vote against it.
The Egyptian army removed Morsi from power on July 3, 2013. It then suspended the constitution, dissolved the parliament, and appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as interim president.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes since Morsi's ouster, and thousands of others have been arrested, including the top leadership of the Brotherhood.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Egypt voters approve constitution
Egyptian officials say voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitution drafted by the military-installed government and boycotted by the opposition.
The Interior Ministry said on Wednesday preliminary results showed that 95 percent of participants approved the draft.
"Turnout so far may exceed 55 percent and the approval of the constitution is perhaps more than 95 percent," Major General Abdel Fattah Othman, director of public relations for the ministry, told private satellite channel Al-Hayat.
The result could pave the way for the army chief to announce his candidacy for president.
The two-day referendum which ended on Wednesday evening was marred by violent clashes between security forces and protesters.
At least 11 people were killed and nearly 450 people, mostly Muslim Brotherhood supporters, were also arrested in the past two days.
The official results of the constitutional referendum are expected to be announced on Sunday.
Some 53 million Egyptians were eligible to vote in the referendum. If passed, the constitution will replace the country’s previous one, approved under former President Mohamed Morsi in December 2012.
A coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood has boycotted the vote on the constitution and called on the Egyptians to vote against it.
The Egyptian army removed Morsi from power on July 3, 2013. It then suspended the constitution, dissolved the parliament, and appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as interim president.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes since Morsi's ouster, and thousands of others have been arrested, including the top leadership of the Brotherhood.
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