Egypt approves new constitution, rival camps say
Egyptians appear to have approved a new constitution after Saturday’s final round of voting in a referendum, early indications showed, despite opposition criticism of the Islamist-influenced measure as divisive. Vice-President Mahmoud Mekky announced his resignation hours before polls closed.
A constitution drafted by an Islamist-dominated assembly was approved by a majority of Egyptians in a referendum, rival camps said on Sunday, after a vote the opposition said drove a wedge through the Arab world’s most populous nation.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which propelled President Mohammed Mursi to power in a June election, said an unofficial tally showed 64 per cent of voters backed the charter after two rounds of voting that ended with a final ballot on Saturday.
An opposition official also told Reuters their unofficial count showed the result was a “yes” vote.
The referendum committee may not declare official results for the two rounds until Monday, after hearing appeals. If the outcome is confirmed, a parliamentary election will follow in about two months.
Mursi’s Islamist backers say the constitution is vital for the transition to democracy, nearly two years after the overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in an uprising. It will provide stability needed to help a fragile economy, they say.
The constitution was “a historic opportunity to unite all national powers on the basis of mutual respect and honest dialogue for the sake of stabilising the nation”, the Brotherhood said in a statement.
