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| Distrust and apathy hit disputed referendum in Egypt | Distrust and apathy hit disputed referendum in Egypt |
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| The second round of voting in Egypt's contentious constitutional referendum was marred by low turnout and delay as the crisis in the country continued. | The second round of voting in Egypt's contentious constitutional referendum was marred by low turnout and delay as the crisis in the country continued. |
| It was expected that the second round of voting would see an even lower turnout at the polls than the first round earlier this month, at which just 32% voted. Friday saw clashes between supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and opponents in Alexandria, resulting in 51 arrests. | It was expected that the second round of voting would see an even lower turnout at the polls than the first round earlier this month, at which just 32% voted. Friday saw clashes between supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and opponents in Alexandria, resulting in 51 arrests. |
| The voting process was divided over two stages because of a shortage of judges to oversee the ballots. Many had gone on strike in protest at a decree issued by Morsi late last month giving him judicial immunity. Morsi used the powers in the decree to call for a referendum on a draft constitution, whose validity has been disputed. | The voting process was divided over two stages because of a shortage of judges to oversee the ballots. Many had gone on strike in protest at a decree issued by Morsi late last month giving him judicial immunity. Morsi used the powers in the decree to call for a referendum on a draft constitution, whose validity has been disputed. |
| The first round of voting saw 56% in favour of passing the draft constitution. Major cities such as Cairo favoured rejecting the draft, but there was a higher percentage of yes votes in the countryside. | The first round of voting saw 56% in favour of passing the draft constitution. Major cities such as Cairo favoured rejecting the draft, but there was a higher percentage of yes votes in the countryside. |
| Hours before polls closed, Morsi's vice-president, Mahmoud Mekki, announced his resignation. The move was in part expected since the new charter would eliminate the vice presidency post. But Mekki hinted that the hurried departure could be linked to Morsi's policies. | Hours before polls closed, Morsi's vice-president, Mahmoud Mekki, announced his resignation. The move was in part expected since the new charter would eliminate the vice presidency post. But Mekki hinted that the hurried departure could be linked to Morsi's policies. |
| "I have realized a while ago that the nature of politics don't suit my professional background as a judge," his resignation letter, read on state TV, said. He said he had first submitted his resignation last month but events forced him to stay on. | "I have realized a while ago that the nature of politics don't suit my professional background as a judge," his resignation letter, read on state TV, said. He said he had first submitted his resignation last month but events forced him to stay on. |
| If, as seems likely, the constitution is approved, the divisions of the past few weeks between Morsi's Islamist supporters and secular and liberal opposition are set to continue. "I don't feel there will be stability after the voting, irrespective of the outcome, because all those involved don't care about the country and are only motivated by self-interest," said Mustafa Amin, a voter at a Giza poll station. | If, as seems likely, the constitution is approved, the divisions of the past few weeks between Morsi's Islamist supporters and secular and liberal opposition are set to continue. "I don't feel there will be stability after the voting, irrespective of the outcome, because all those involved don't care about the country and are only motivated by self-interest," said Mustafa Amin, a voter at a Giza poll station. |
| Although the draft constitution is expected to be passed with a thin margin, the opposition to it and the furore it has caused remain entrenched. "The whole thing has become a mess," said retired army general Hussein Saleh. "We need stability irrespective of who's in charge, and we're not getting that," he said. Asked if the military should step in, he responded: "No, the army has no place in politics." | Although the draft constitution is expected to be passed with a thin margin, the opposition to it and the furore it has caused remain entrenched. "The whole thing has become a mess," said retired army general Hussein Saleh. "We need stability irrespective of who's in charge, and we're not getting that," he said. Asked if the military should step in, he responded: "No, the army has no place in politics." |
| Opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood has solidified. Saleh's daughter, Ghada, placed the blame for Egypt's current ills squarely at the Brotherhood's doorstep. "Muslims have never killed Muslims in Egypt before on such a scale," she said, in reference to the 5 December violence outside the presidential palace between Morsi supporters and opponents in which nine people died. | Opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood has solidified. Saleh's daughter, Ghada, placed the blame for Egypt's current ills squarely at the Brotherhood's doorstep. "Muslims have never killed Muslims in Egypt before on such a scale," she said, in reference to the 5 December violence outside the presidential palace between Morsi supporters and opponents in which nine people died. |
| "The Brotherhood does not own Islam. We have lived side by side with Christians who have a right to this country as much as we do, and now the Brotherhood is creating divisions. They have lost credibility, and we will not believe anything they say in future." | "The Brotherhood does not own Islam. We have lived side by side with Christians who have a right to this country as much as we do, and now the Brotherhood is creating divisions. They have lost credibility, and we will not believe anything they say in future." |
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