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Egypt referendum: '98% back new constitution' Egypt referendum: '98% back new constitution'
(about 2 hours later)
Egypt's referendum on a new constitution has been backed by 98.1% of people who voted, officials say. A proposed new Egyptian constitution has been backed by 98.1% of people who voted in a referendum, officials say.
Turnout was 38.6% of the more than 50-million eligible voters, the election committee said. Turnout was 38.6% of the 53 million eligible voters, the election committee said.
The draft constitution replaces one introduced by Islamist President Mohammed Morsi before he was ousted.The draft constitution replaces one introduced by Islamist President Mohammed Morsi before he was ousted.
The referendum is being seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which toppled him in July last year.The referendum is being seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which toppled him in July last year.
The vote, which took place over two days last week, was boycotted by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement which Mr Morsi comes from and which wants to see him returned to office. The vote, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday but was boycotted by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement from which Mr Morsi comes and which wants to see him returned to office.
Several people died in clashes involving Mr Morsi's supporters on the first day of voting. Several people died in violence involving Mr Morsi's supporters on the first day of voting.
There were further clashes with the security forces on Friday in which four people died. There were further clashes with the security forces on Friday in which four people died, the Health Ministry said.
Huge security operation
Election Commission head Nabil Salib called the vote an "unrivalled success" with "unprecedented turnout", AP news agency reported.
A constitutional referendum held in 2012 while Mohammed Morsi was in power but boycotted by secularists saw a turnout of 33%, with 64% of voters approving the document.
The new proposed constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.
Critics say the document favours the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the 2011 revolution that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak.
Under the draft:
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.