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Egypt referendum turnout 'high' Egypt awaits results of constitution referendum
(about 11 hours later)
Egyptian officials have spoken of a high turnout in a referendum on a new constitution, with voters expected to endorse the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Egyptians are awaiting the results of a referendum on a new constitution, with officials saying it has been overwhelmingly approved.
Top election official Nabil Salib told state TV that voter turnout was higher than in previous polls but gave no precise figure, AP news agency said. The draft constitution replaces one introduced by Mohammed Morsi before the Islamist president was ousted.
The second day of voting on Wednesday passed off largely peacefully. State media report that 37% of registered voters took part, slightly more than in the vote under Mr Morsi.
Nine people died on Tuesday in clashes involving Mr Morsi's supporters. The referendum is being seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which removed him.
It was boycotted by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement Mr Morsi comes from and which wants to see him returned to office.
On the first day of voting on Tuesday, nine people died in clashes involving Mr Morsi's supporters. The second day passed off largely peacefully.
Some 400 people are said to have been arrested over the two days for disrupting the vote.Some 400 people are said to have been arrested over the two days for disrupting the vote.
A senior interior ministry official told a private TV channel that turnout in the vote may exceed 55%, Reuters news agency said. He said preliminary results indicated that approval of the constitution may be more than 95%. On Thursday, police fired tear gas during clashes with students protesting outside Cairo University in the Giza district.
However, turnout was reported to be low in Muslim Brotherhood strongholds. Voter apathy
Mr Salib did not give a figure for voter turnout but said results were expected to be announced on Friday. State TV said initial results showed 50% turnout with more than 90% voting yes. The state-run Al Ahram newspaper put the unofficial turnout at just under 37% of registered voters.
"The turnout will be the highest if compared with past polls," he was quoted as saying. It projected a more than 90% win by the "yes" campaign in all regions, except for North Sinai, where votes have not yet been counted.
In the December 2012 constitutional referendum held while Mohammed Morsi was in power, 33% of Egypt's 53 million voters took part in the ballot. It was approved by 64% of voters. In the December 2012 constitutional referendum - held while Mohammed Morsi was in power and boycotted by secularists - 33% of Egypt's 53 million voters took part. The draft was approved by 64% of voters.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says that there is no serious doubt that the authorities will get the yes vote they crave, not least because the referendum has been boycotted by Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood party. The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says voter participation may not have been as high as the military and the interim government it backs may have liked, but given Egypt's history of low turnouts it is probably enough for them to argue their vision for the country's future has been endorsed.
Our correspondent says that the level of participation in the poll is crucial - the army needs a strong turnout to endorse its own political powers and pave the way for its leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for president. The high proportion of yes votes is more a reflection of the fact that those opposed to the constitution, including the Brotherhood, boycotted the poll, rather than an indication of a tidal wave of enthusiasm for the document, says our correspondent.
It is the country's third constitutional referendum in as many years - the army hopes that it will draw a line under a period of often violent turmoil. Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is likely see the result as an invitation to run for president when elections take place, he adds.
Morsi supporters blocked a metro station in a Cairo suburb, stopping some trains, security officials said, but were quickly dispersed by police. The new proposed constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.
The new charter is to replace the constitution passed during the rule of Mr Morsi before he was removed last July. Critics say the document favours the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the 2011 revolution.
The BBC's Sally Nabil, at a polling station in Alexandria on Wednesday, said the number of people queuing as voting began was noticeably lower than at the same time the previous day. Under the draft:
However, another polling station for voters from outside Alexandria was busy, our correspondent reports.
Correspondents in Cairo also suggest that polling stations were not as busy as on Tuesday. The BBC's Ahmed Kilany says it was a similar story in the southern cities of Assiut and Sohag.
A huge security operation was in evidence throughout the two days of voting, with some 160,000 soldiers and more than 200,000 policemen deployed nationwide.A huge security operation was in evidence throughout the two days of voting, with some 160,000 soldiers and more than 200,000 policemen deployed nationwide.
'Work hard' Morsi supporters blocked a metro station in a Cairo suburb, stopping some trains, security officials said, but were quickly dispersed by police.
The referendum is believed likely to lead to elections later in the year and Gen Sisi, who backed the overthrow of Mr Morsi, is considered almost certain to stand for president.
The new constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.
The authorities maintain that it is a crucial step towards stability.
Under the new constitution:
Critics say the new charter favours the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the 2011 revolution.
Mohammed Morsi, who was Egypt's first democratically elected president, is being held in jail in Alexandria, facing several criminal charges relating to his time in office. He says they are politically motivated.Mohammed Morsi, who was Egypt's first democratically elected president, is being held in jail in Alexandria, facing several criminal charges relating to his time in office. He says they are politically motivated.
More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mr Morsi's overthrow.More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mr Morsi's overthrow.
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