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| Egypt votes on divisive reforms | Egypt votes on divisive reforms |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Egyptians are voting in a key referendum on constitutional changes which the opposition criticise as paving the way for a police state. | Egyptians are voting in a key referendum on constitutional changes which the opposition criticise as paving the way for a police state. |
| The 34 amendments include a ban on the creation of political parties based on religion, and sweeping security powers. | The 34 amendments include a ban on the creation of political parties based on religion, and sweeping security powers. |
| The government says the changes will deepen democracy in the country and help in the fight against terrorism. | The government says the changes will deepen democracy in the country and help in the fight against terrorism. |
| Secular and Islamist opposition groups are boycotting the changes, saying they make it easier to rig future elections. | Secular and Islamist opposition groups are boycotting the changes, saying they make it easier to rig future elections. |
| Correspondents say there has been little sign of the "millions of voters heading to ballot boxes" reported by the official news agency, Mena. | Correspondents say there has been little sign of the "millions of voters heading to ballot boxes" reported by the official news agency, Mena. |
| "What's the use? All referendums are fixed," said one taxi driver quoted by AFP news agency. | "What's the use? All referendums are fixed," said one taxi driver quoted by AFP news agency. |
| KEY AMENDMENTS Article 5:Bans political activity/parties based on religionArticle 88: Removes judicial supervision of electionsArticle 179: Invokes special powers to fight terrorism Analysis: 'Permanent emergency' "Egyptians know what's going on but we can't say anything or we'll be arrested and put in jail," he added. | KEY AMENDMENTS Article 5:Bans political activity/parties based on religionArticle 88: Removes judicial supervision of electionsArticle 179: Invokes special powers to fight terrorism Analysis: 'Permanent emergency' "Egyptians know what's going on but we can't say anything or we'll be arrested and put in jail," he added. |
| After almost two hours of voting at one Alexandria polling station, election officials are quoted as saying that 53 people out of more than 3,500 registered voters had voted. | After almost two hours of voting at one Alexandria polling station, election officials are quoted as saying that 53 people out of more than 3,500 registered voters had voted. |
| Under Egyptian election laws, a low turn-out would not affect the outcome, as a simple majority of votes cast is required for victory. | Under Egyptian election laws, a low turn-out would not affect the outcome, as a simple majority of votes cast is required for victory. |
| The government says the changes will allow the drafting of a new anti-terrorism law to replace the emergency legislation in place since 1981, giving police wide powers of arrest and surveillance. | The government says the changes will allow the drafting of a new anti-terrorism law to replace the emergency legislation in place since 1981, giving police wide powers of arrest and surveillance. |
| In addition, the amendments ban all religious-based political activity and parties, a blow to the already-banned Muslim Brotherhood, which represents the strongest opposition force. | In addition, the amendments ban all religious-based political activity and parties, a blow to the already-banned Muslim Brotherhood, which represents the strongest opposition force. |
| They also allow the adoption of a new election law and do away with the need for judicial supervision of every ballot box. | They also allow the adoption of a new election law and do away with the need for judicial supervision of every ballot box. |
| Basic freedoms | Basic freedoms |
| Voting began at 0600 GMT, although a number of the country's 10,000 polling stations were reported to have opened late. About 36m people are registered to vote. | Voting began at 0600 GMT, although a number of the country's 10,000 polling stations were reported to have opened late. About 36m people are registered to vote. |
| Opposition lawmakers say the changes will undermine basic rightsHundreds of riot police were deployed in Cairo. | Opposition lawmakers say the changes will undermine basic rightsHundreds of riot police were deployed in Cairo. |
| The BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo says for many in the opposition this is a black day in Egypt's history as they say the changes spell the death of the constitution as the main guarantee of liberties and democracy. | The BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo says for many in the opposition this is a black day in Egypt's history as they say the changes spell the death of the constitution as the main guarantee of liberties and democracy. |
| The opposition says the changes will consolidate dictatorship, and that watering down judicial supervision of elections will make fraud easier. | The opposition says the changes will consolidate dictatorship, and that watering down judicial supervision of elections will make fraud easier. |
| They are also deeply uneasy about the wording of the articles on the new anti-terrorism law because it will be possible to bypass the constitutional guarantees protecting basic freedoms. | They are also deeply uneasy about the wording of the articles on the new anti-terrorism law because it will be possible to bypass the constitutional guarantees protecting basic freedoms. |
| Human rights group Amnesty International has called the changes the greatest erosion of human rights in 26 years. | Human rights group Amnesty International has called the changes the greatest erosion of human rights in 26 years. |
| Are you in Egypt? Are you voting in the referendum? Do you think changes to the constitution would be a good thing? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Egypt? Are you voting in the referendum? Do you think changes to the constitution would be a good thing? You can send us your comments using the form below: |
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