- Title: UAE: Egyptians in Dubai begin voting in referendum on new constitution
- Date: 12th December 2012
- Summary: VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN REGISTERING TO VOTE VARIOUS OF EGYPTIANS CASTING BALLOTS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- City:
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB5KHSMQ9MA10X54BGM8GHCD9X
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Egyptians abroad began voting on Wednesday (December 12) in a referendum on the new constitution that President Mohamed Mursi fast-tracked through an Islamist-dominated drafting assembly, in a setback for the opposition who had hoped to delay the process.
The official state news agency reported voting had started at Egyptian embassies abroad, the same day as the army scheduled talks between rival factions aiming to restore national unity.
In Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, expatriate Egyptians began to express their will for their home country.
"Today we have started the referendum, which will take place between 8am and 8pm. The process is going smoothly and people have started to cast ballots," said Deputy Consul General of Egypt in Dubai Manal Abdelayem.
"The white box there (ballot box) will reflect the Egyptian people's choice and that should be the way to check if they say yes or no to the constitution," said engineer Sayed Abu Zaid.
Voting on the referendum at home will be spread over two days, Dec.15 and Dec. 22.
The liberal, secular opposition had argued that the chaotic protests and counter protests which followed Mursi's assumption of sweeping new powers late last month meant the referendum should be postponed, but large opposition rallies this week did not change the Islamist president's mind on the matter.
State media said the two-day voting plan had been adopted because many of the judges needed to oversee the vote were staying away in protest at the decision to hold the referendum, so voting had to be staggered to move the judges around.
Mursi was anxious to push through the new constitution as it must be in place before national elections can be held. Those are expected early next year.
In response to the growing political crisis surrounding the referendum, Egypt's military chief will host national unity talks in Cairo later on Wednesday.
Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood, which propelled him to the presidency in a June election, were expected to attend, while the main opposition coalition said it would decide on Wednesday morning whether to participate. The opposition stayed away from an earlier reconciliation meeting called by Mursi last weekend. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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