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Egypt opposition alleges referendum rigging as Islamists claim victory Egypt opposition alleges referendum rigging as Islamists claim victory
(about 9 hours later)
Recriminations have broken out over Egypt's constitutional referendum even before the two-stage vote has been completed, with the Muslim Brotherhood claiming victory and the opposition complaining of rigging and insisting the no camp has triumphed. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has claimed victory in the first round of the country's bitterly divisive constitutional referendum, with opposition forces complaining of large-scale rigging and violations.
Unofficial overnight results from Saturday's first round showed 56.5% approval to 43% rejection on a turnout of 33%, with a clear no win in Cairo, one of 10 of Egypt's governorates where polling took place. The referendum is to be held in the country's remaining 17 governorates next Saturday. Unofficial results from Saturday's first round showed 56% approval to 43% rejection on a low turnout of 33%, with a clear no win in Cairo, one of the 10 governorates where polling took place. The referendum is to be held in the country's remaining 17 governorates next Saturday - where prospects for a no win are poorer.
The figures reported by the Freedom and Justice party (FJP), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, were based on 99% of the votes being counted. If confirmed, the referendum will be a victory for Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood leader who was elected president on a 51% mandate in June. The figures were reported by the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the Brotherhood, whose results have proved accurate in previous elections.
Gehad El-Haddad, a senior Brotherhood and FJP adviser, said: "We thank Allah and the people of Egypt for such honourable practice of democratic participation and, although approval [is] lower than expected, we are glad it's yes." If, as expected, the trend is confirmed, the referendum will bolster the Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi, who was elected president on a 51% mandate last June. But no end is in sight to the country's grave political crisis.
The opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) claimed 66% voted no to the controversial draft basic law. It said it had detected "unprecedented rigging", including 750 violations. These included unstamped voting papers, the names of deceased persons on voting lists, the absence of observers at polling stations, and delays in opening. The Egyptian Coalition for Human Rights reported cases of financial inducements for voting yes. Sit-in protests against the constitution were continuing on Sunday night in Cairo's central Tahrir Square and at the presidential palace in Heliopolis, where nine people were killed last week.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the co-ordinator of the NSF, warned in a Twitter message: "Country split, flagrant irregularities, low turnout, disillusion with Islamists on the rise. Illiteracy remains a hurdle." Gehad El-Haddad, a senior Brotherhood and FJP adviser, said: "We thank Allah and the people of Egypt for such honourable practice of democratic participation and although approval [is] lower than expected, [we are] glad it's yes."
Egyptians of all political views agree that stability will remain elusive through the second anniversary of the outbreak of the revolution on 25 January. Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years, was overthrown on 11 February. The opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) claimed a 66% no to the controversial draft basic law. It said it had detected "unprecedented rigging," including 750 violations. These included unstamped ballot papers, the names of deceased people on lists and the absence of observers at polling stations. The Egyptian Coalition for Human Rights reported the use of religious slogans and financial inducements for voting yes.
The referendum was largely peaceful, but violence erupted on Saturday night when the Cairo headquarters of the liberal Wafd party, part of the NSF, came under attack from unknown assailants. Wafd accused the Salafist preacher Hazem Abu-Ismail of being involved but he denied any responsibility. Mohamed ElBaradei, the co-ordinator of the NSF, warned Morsi in Twitter messages: "In light of Egypt's evident, and dangerous, division, will you realize the necessity of being a president for all Egyptians? Country split, flagrant irregularities, low turnout, disillusion with Islamists on the rise. Illiteracy remains a hurdle."
The hastily arranged vote follows three weeks of protests and sporadic violence after Morsi, who pledged last June to rule for all Egyptians, adopted sweeping powers bypassing the judiciary and rushed through completion of the draft constitutional text in the constituent assembly. Many Egyptians, alarmed by a growing budget deficit and the weakness of the pound against the US dollar, agree that stability will remain elusive through next month's second anniversary of the outbreak of the revolution which overthrew Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years.
In a highly polarised atmosphere, the Muslim Brotherhood camp has complained of a counter-revolution against a democratically elected president by a coalition of anti-Islamist activists and so-called felool or remnants of the Mubarak regime. "Even with all this rigging and intimidation the Brotherhood could only get 56%," Hisham Kassem, a political commentator, told the Guardian. "So next week will be much worse. Egypt is heading for disaster."
But secular and liberal opponents, including many Muslims, say they object to his undemocratic and non-consensual behaviour and an ambiguous constitution flawed by what it says or implies about the role of Islam and clerical scholars, the position of the still-powerful army, presidential appointments, rights and other fundamental issues. The referendum was largely peaceful, but violence erupted on Saturday night when the Cairo headquarters of the liberal Wafd Party, part of the NSF, came under attack. The Wafd accused the Salafist preacher Hazem Abu Ismail of being involved but he denied responsibility.
Independent Egyptian and foreign observers argue that a divided opposition has seized too gleefully on Morsi's miscalculations and vacillation and now risks raising the stakes with an escalation of the crisis. The hastily-arranged vote follows three weeks of protests and sporadic violence after Morsi adopted sweeping powers bypassing the judiciary and rushed through completion of the constitutional text in the constituent assembly.
If passed, the constitution will pave the way for new parliamentary elections early next year. The last national assembly, dominated by the Brotherhood and conservative Salafis, was dissolved. In a highly polarised atmosphere the Brotherhood camp complains of a "counter-revolution" against a democratically-elected president by a coalition of anti-Islamist activists and so-called felool or remnants of the Mubarak regime.
But secular and liberal opponents, including many Muslims, insist that they object to his undemocratic and non-consensual behaviour and an ambiguous constitution flawed by what it says or implies about the role of Islam and clerical scholars, human and labour rights, the position of the still powerful army and other fundamental issues.
Independent Egyptian and foreign observers argue that a divided and disorganised opposition has seized too gleefully on Morsi's miscalculations and vacillation and now risks raising the stakes with an escalation of the crisis.
If passed, the constitution will pave the way for new parliamentary elections next year. The last national assembly, dominated by the Brotherhood and Salafis, was dissolved. In a new election, many now expect a decline for the Islamist vote and a better performance by more confident and united opposition candidates. "The Brotherhood will not be able to run the country," predicted Kassem. "They will end up with state failure."
The FJP said: "The Egyptian people have expressed their free will in the first stage of the constitutional referendum and have also proved to be highly aware. This is a genuine democratic process."