Egypt calmer on second day of poll

Ahram Online , Thursday 16 Jan 2014

444 people arrested for disrupting Egypt's two-day referendum that overwhelmingly approved the new constitution

Voting passed off more peacefully on Wednesday, the second and final day of Egypt's constitution referendum.

Two people died from natural causes and 19 were injured from causes including fainting, the health ministry said.

Nine people died on the first day of voting as Morsi supporters clashed with police and civilians.

Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi had called for a boycott of the vote which is expected to pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections by the summer.

The interior ministry said 444 people, including Brotherhood members, were arrested for rioting and disrupting the polling over the two-day vote.

Early unofficial results show Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favour of the charter, with an approval rate nearing 98 percent.

 

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