Egyptians abroad began voting on Wednesday in a referendum on the new constitution that President Mohammed Mursi fast-tracked through an Islamist-dominated drafting assembly, in a setback for the opposition who had hoped to delay the process.
The official state news agency reported voting had started at Egyptian embassies abroad, the same day as the army scheduled talks between rival factions aiming to restore national unity.
Voting on the referendum at home will be spread over two days, December15 and December 22.
The liberal, secular opposition had argued that the chaotic protests and counter protests which followed Mursi’s assumption of sweeping new powers late last month meant the referendum should be postponed, but large opposition rallies this week did not change the Islamist president’s mind on the matter.
State media said the two-day voting plan had been adopted because many of the judges needed to oversee the vote were staying away in protest at the decision to hold the referendum, so voting had to be staggered to move the judges around.
Mursi was anxious to push through the new constitution as it must be in place before national elections can be held. Those are expected early next year.
