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                   Polls Close in Egyptian Constitution Vote

   by VOA News

   The polls have closed in Egypt in the second and final round of a
   referendum on an Islamist-backed constitution that has sparked weeks of
   violence and protests.
   About 25 million Egyptians were eligible to cast ballots Saturday.
   Election officials extended the voting to 11 p.m. local time, as they
   did in the first round of the referendum last week.
   Unofficial results from the initial round indicate the new charter was
   approved by nearly a three-to-two margin -- or 57 percent.
   Egyptian Voters Reflect on Referendum
   (by Al Pessin/Japhet Weeks)

   IFRAME:
   [1]http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1570656&w=512&h=320

   ''
   The Muslim Brotherhood, the former party of Egyptian President Mohamed
   Morsi, supports the new constitution. However, members of Egypt's
   liberal, secular and Christian opposition fear it will erode civil
   liberties, because it increases the role of Islamic law.
   A largely Islamist committee approved the draft constitution last month
   after liberal and Christian members walked out, complaining their views
   were being ignored.
   It is not clear when final results from the referendum will be
   announced.
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   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/polls-close-in-egypt-referendum-on-co
   nstitution/1570646.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1570656&w=512&h=320
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/polls-close-in-egypt-referendum-on-constitution/1570646.html