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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Egyptian voters back new constitution in referendum | Egyptian voters back new constitution in referendum |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nearly two-thirds of voters in an Egyptian referendum have supported a proposed new constitution, the election commission has announced. | Nearly two-thirds of voters in an Egyptian referendum have supported a proposed new constitution, the election commission has announced. |
| In all, 63.8% of voters cast Yes ballots in two stages, on 15 and 22 December. The commission announced the result live on state-run Nile News TV. | In all, 63.8% of voters cast Yes ballots in two stages, on 15 and 22 December. The commission announced the result live on state-run Nile News TV. |
| Parliamentary elections must now take place within two months. | |
| Critics say the document, which has triggered mass protests, betrays the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak. | Critics say the document, which has triggered mass protests, betrays the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak. |
| He was ousted from power in February 2011 after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. | He was ousted from power in February 2011 after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. |
| 'Bridge divisions' | 'Bridge divisions' |
| After the referendum result was announced, dozens of anti-constitution protesters blocked one of Cairo's main bridges, setting tyres alight and stopping traffic. | |
| The US state department responded to the vote by urging all sides in Egypt to commit themselves "to engage in an inclusive process to negotiate their differences". | |
| In a direct appeal to President Mohammed Morsi, spokesman Patrick Ventrell said as democratically elected leader he had a "special responsibility... to bridge divisions, build trust, and broaden support for the political process". | In a direct appeal to President Mohammed Morsi, spokesman Patrick Ventrell said as democratically elected leader he had a "special responsibility... to bridge divisions, build trust, and broaden support for the political process". |
| President Morsi's mainly Islamist supporters say that the new constitution will secure democracy and encourage stability. | President Morsi's mainly Islamist supporters say that the new constitution will secure democracy and encourage stability. |
| But opponents accuse the president of pushing through a text that favours Islamists and does not sufficiently protect the rights of women or Christians, who make up about 10% of the population. | But opponents accuse the president of pushing through a text that favours Islamists and does not sufficiently protect the rights of women or Christians, who make up about 10% of the population. |
| Turnout was 32.9% of Egypt's total of 52 million voters, election commission President Samir Abul Maati told a news conference in Cairo. | Turnout was 32.9% of Egypt's total of 52 million voters, election commission President Samir Abul Maati told a news conference in Cairo. |
| Mr Maati rejected opposition allegations that fake judges supervised some of the polling - one of several complaints relating to voting fraud made by the opposition National Salvation Front after each stage of voting. | Mr Maati rejected opposition allegations that fake judges supervised some of the polling - one of several complaints relating to voting fraud made by the opposition National Salvation Front after each stage of voting. |
| Egypt has recently seen large demonstrations by both critics and supporters of the constitution, which have occasionally turned violent. | Egypt has recently seen large demonstrations by both critics and supporters of the constitution, which have occasionally turned violent. |
| But the political divisions surrounding the referendum have led to economic uncertainty and a reported rush to buy US dollars. | |
| Currency exchanges in parts of Cairo were said to have run out of dollars. Before the result was announced, the authorities declared a limit of $10,000 (£6,200) for travellers into and out of Egypt. | |
| On Monday, Egypt's central bank issued a statement saying that the banks had "stable liquidity" to safeguard all deposits. |