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| Egypt referendum: '98% back new constitution' | Egypt referendum: '98% back new constitution' |
| (6 days later) | |
| A proposed new Egyptian constitution has been backed by 98.1% of people who voted in a referendum, 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 53 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 banned Muslim Brotherhood, which Mr Morsi comes from and which boycotted the referendum, dismissed it as a "farce". | The banned Muslim Brotherhood, which Mr Morsi comes from and which boycotted the referendum, dismissed it as a "farce". |
| The referendum was seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which toppled him in July last year. | The referendum was seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which toppled him in July last year. |
| Several people died in violence 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, the Health Ministry said. | There were further clashes with the security forces on Friday in which four people died, the Health Ministry said. |
| Huge security operation | Huge security operation |
| Election Commission head Nabil Salib called the vote an "unrivalled success" with "unprecedented turnout", AP news agency reported. | Election Commission head Nabil Salib called the vote an "unrivalled success" with "unprecedented turnout", AP news agency reported. |
| Later on Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Egypt "to fully implement those rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the new constitution". | Later on Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Egypt "to fully implement those rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the new constitution". |
| He said in a statement: "Egypt's turbulent experiment in participatory democracy the last three years has reminded us all that it's not one vote that determines a democracy, it's all the steps that follow." | He said in a statement: "Egypt's turbulent experiment in participatory democracy the last three years has reminded us all that it's not one vote that determines a democracy, it's all the steps that follow." |
| He added: "The interim government has committed repeatedly to a transition process that expands democratic rights and leads to a civilian-led, inclusive government through free and fair elections. Now is the time to make that commitment a reality." | He added: "The interim government has committed repeatedly to a transition process that expands democratic rights and leads to a civilian-led, inclusive government through free and fair elections. Now is the time to make that commitment a reality." |
| A constitutional referendum held in 2012 while Mohammed Morsi was in power 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. |
| Correction 24 January: This story has been amended to remove an incorrect reference to secularists boycotting the 2012 referendum. |