Egyptians vote on disputed constitution

CAIRO - Egyptians started Saturday morning casting their votes in the final round of a controversial constitutional referendum that had stirred up divisions between the country's liberals and Islamists.

As many as 25 million eligible voters in 17 governorates, including Giza, Suez, Ismailia and Port Said, start to cast their votes at 8:00 am local time (0600 GMT) to determine the destiny of the country's draft constitution, while the first stage in last week covered Cairo, Alexandria and eight other governorates, according to a republican decree issued by President Mohamed Morsi on Dec 12.

A girl casts her ballot in the final stage of a referendom on Egypt's new constitution in Giza, south of Cairo, Dec 22, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Due to the high turnout noted by the Supreme Election Commission, the closing time of the referendum was extended from 7:00 pm local time (1700 GMT) to 11:00 pm (2100 GMT).

In another development, Vice-President Mahmoud Mekki submitted a resignation on Saturday afternoon. Mekki said in his resignation that he had informed this request to President Morsi since November, but it had been interrupted by continued unrest in the country and in the region.

The day before of the second stage of the historic referendum, fresh clashes erupted between Islamists and their opponents in Egypt's northern seaside city of Alexandria, leaving more than 70 people injured.

The pro- and anti-Islamist protesters hurled stones at each other outside Qaed Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria, forcing security forces to use tear gas and establish a barrier to disperse the crowd, eyewitnesses told Xinhua.

The clashes erupted as several thousand Islamists gathered outside the mosque, chanting statements in support of Morsi, the Sharia (Islamic law) and the draft constitution, while their opponents gathered at the opposite side and shouted anti-Islamist slogans in response.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil cast his ballot on Saturday in a polling station in Dokki district, Giza, hours after his call for all eligible voters to cast ballots in the second phase.

President Morsi had cast his ballot in the first round last week in the Misr al-Gedida district where the presidential palace is located.

Xinhua reporter saw a number of polling stations opened their doors later than scheduled in Qena governorate due to the absence of judges. More judges were transferred urgently by helicopters from Cairo to Qena.

Similar cases were also reported in other governorates, as voters formed long queues outside the stations.

Regarding the concerns over the shortage of supervising judges, Samir al-Qamash, senior member from the Counselors' Club of the state issues administration, confirmed that the second phase of the referendum is fully conducted under judges' watch.

More than 6,000 judges from various judicial sectors have signed up to take the overseeing duty, Qamash added.

Similar to the first stage of the referendum, many voters are hesitant about the constitution.