Egyptian Islamists plan big rally
2012-12-21 09:23
Cairo - Egyptian Islamists are planning a mass protest in
Alexandria on Friday in a move likely to raise tensions on the eve of a
divisive referendum that will determine the political future of the Arab
world's biggest nation.
The Muslim Brotherhood called for the rally after a violent
confrontation between Islamists and the liberal, secular opposition in Egypt's
second city last week ended with a Muslim preacher besieged inside his mosque
for 14 hours. Rival factions were armed with clubs, knives and swords.
The run-up to the referendum on a new draft constitution has
been marked by often violent protests in which at least eight people have died.
The constitution is backed by President Mohammed Morsi and
his Islamist allies as a vital step in Egypt's transition to democracy almost
two years after the fall of Hosni Mubarak.
The opposition, facing defeat in the referendum, has called
for a "no" vote against a document it views as leaning too far
towards Islamism.
The first day of voting on 15 December resulted in a 57% majority
in favour of the constitution. The second stage on Saturday is expected to
produce another "yes" vote as it covers regions seen as more conservative
and likely to back Morsi.
The National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition,
said a "no" vote meant taking a stand against attempts by the Muslim
Brotherhood, Morsi's political base, to dominate Egypt.
"For the sake of the future, the masses of our people
should strongly and firmly say 'no' to injustice and 'no' to the Brotherhood's
dominance," the Front said in a statement.
The constitution must be in place before elections can be
held. If it passes, the poll should be held within two months.
Uncertainty
Morsi and his backers say the constitution is needed to
advance Egypt's transition from decades of military-backed autocratic rule.
Opponents say it ignores the rights of women and of minorities, including the
10 percent of Egyptians who are Christian.
Demonstrations erupted when Morsi awarded himself sweeping
powers on 22 November and then fast-tracked the constitution through a drafting
assembly dominated by his Islamist allies and boycotted by many liberals.
The referendum is being held over two days because many of
the judges needed to oversee polling stayed away in protest. In order to pass,
the constitution must be approved by more than 50% of those voting.
Adding to the uncertainty as the final round of the
referendum approaches, Egypt's chief prosecutor suddenly announced that he was
retracting his decision to quit.
Prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim, appointed by Morsi when he
assumed his new powers, said he had changed his mind because his resignation on
Monday was under duress.
Ibrahim had quit after more than 1 000 members of his staff
gathered at his office to demand he step down because his appointment by the
president, rather than by judicial authorities, threatened the independence of
the judiciary.
After he announced he was staying, several prosecutors
announced they were suspending work and would stage an open-ended protest
outside Ibrahim's office.
