Renewed clashes in Egypt
2012-12-14 18:02
Cairo -Stone-throwing clashes broke out between Islamists
and opposition protesters in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Friday on the
eve of a highly charged referendum on a new constitution, witnesses said.
There was no immediate word on any casualties but
witnesses told AFP street violence was continuing in Egypt's second-biggest
city despite police efforts to restore order.
Tensions have been running high over the referendum,
which is being held over two successive Saturdays, after weeks of protests and
violence between the rival camps in Cairo that killed eight people and injured
hundreds last week.
Both sides were holding further rallies in Cairo on
Friday.
A pro-constitution demonstration organised by the Muslim
Brotherhood backing President Mohammed Morsi gathered more than 2 000 people.
Egypt's mainly secular opposition has slammed the draft
charter as divisive and a possible attempt by Islamists to introduce Islamic
law.
"Insistence on referendum in an explosive,
polarized, chaotic and lawless environment is leading country to the
brink," opposition National Salvation Front leader Mohamed ElBaradei said
on his Twitter feed.
The Front has said it could yet call a boycott if its
"deep concern" over the referendum's fairness turns out to be
founded.
Morsi has ordered Egypt's military to help police
maintain security until the results of the plebiscite are known. A total of 130
000 police and 120 000 soldiers will be deployed, interior ministry and
military officials told AFP.
Polling in the referendum is being spread over two
Saturdays because of a shortage of judges willing to provide the statutory
supervision for the vote.
Voting will begin on Saturday in Cairo and Alexandria and
in eight other provinces. A week later the other half of the country will vote.
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and ultra-orthodox Salafist
groups backing the draft charter have been campaigning for days for Egypt's 51
million voters to approve it.
The opposition - which initially wanted the referendum postponed
- only started urging a "no" vote on Thursday.
"It's you who will pay the price if you vote 'yes’.
'No' to the constitution," said an online campaign advertisement by an
opposition group called 6 April.
International watchdogs, including the UN human rights
chief, as well as the US and the EU, have expressed reservations about the
draft constitution because of loopholes that could be used to weaken human
rights, the rights of women and the independence of judges.
Analysts said the proven ability of the Muslim
Brotherhood to get its voters out meant it was likely -but not certain - the
draft constitution would pass.
If it is adopted, "it will exacerbate political
tension and result in more acrimony”, Hani Sabra, an Egypt specialist for the
Eurasia Group, said in an evaluation note.
"The Brotherhood and Morsi believe that if the
constitution is adopted, it represents a mandate to pursue their policies.
However, majority support does not translate into the bureaucracy falling in
line. It will also not silence the opposition," he wrote.
Polls open on Saturday at 08:00 and are scheduled to
close at 19:00.
