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Politics of Egypt

Egypt has begun voting in a two-day referendum on a new constitution, which could pave the way for fresh elections.

The new charter aims to replace the constitution passed under Islamist President Mohamed Morsi months before he was ousted by the army.

The military wants a strong “Yes” vote to endorse Mohamed Morsi’s removal.

Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, now designated a terrorist group, is boycotting the vote and there are fears of violence.

Shortly before voting began, an explosion took place near a court building in Cairo’s Imbaba district, although no casualties were reported.

A huge security operation is being mounted for the two days of voting. The interior ministry says 200,000 police officers, 150 central security units and 200 combat groups are being deployed around polling stations on both days.

Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited one polling station in north Cairo, telling guards there: “Work hard. We need the referendum to be completely secured.”

However, spotting any posters from the “No” campaign is a lot harder and people have been arrested for putting them up.

The referendum is seen by many as more than a ballot on a new constitution – it is widely viewed as a verdict on the removal of Mohamed Morsi.

Television pictures showed long lines of voters at some Cairo polling stations.

Interim PM Hazem Beblawi has called the referendum the “most critical moment” for Egypt.

After voting on Tuesday, he said: “Our country needs every vote from Egyptians.”

Egypt has begun voting in a two-day referendum on a new constitution

Egypt has begun voting in a two-day referendum on a new constitution

The new constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.

The authorities maintain that the new draft delivers more rights and freedoms, and is a crucial step on the road to stability.

Under the new constitution:

  • The president may serve two four-year terms and can be impeached by parliament
  • Islam remains the state religion – but freedom of belief is absolute, giving some protection to minorities
  • The state guarantees “equality between men and women”
  • Parties may not be formed based on “religion, race, gender or geography”

Critics say the new constitution favors the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the revolution of 2011 which overthrew Hosni Mubarak.

The new constitution retains a provision allowing civilians to be tried in military courts, and it gives the military control over the appointment of the defense minister for the next eight years.

It also stipulates that the military’s budget will be beyond civilian oversight

A “yes” vote could also pave the way for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections.

It now seems certain that Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who backed Mohamed Morsi’s removal following mass protests, will run for president.

The constitution is expected to attract a resounding “Yes” vote, but the turnout is key, analysts say.

The last charter, passed just over a year ago, was approved by 63.8%, but only 32.9% of the population voted.

Mohamed Morsi was Egypt’s first democratically elected president but was deposed by the military last July.

He is being held in jail in Alexandria, facing several criminal charges relating to his time in office – which he says are politically motivated.

Many of the Muslim Brotherhood’s senior leaders and the movement’s supporters are also behind bars.

More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mohamed Morsi’s overthrow.

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Hosni Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, and his last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, have been acquitted of charges of embezzlement by an Egyptian court.

Ahmed Shafiq, who has been living in the United Arab Emirates since losing the presidential election to Mohamed Morsi in 2012, was tried in absentia.

Gamal and Alaa Mubarak have been involved in a series of trials since their father’s fall from power.

All three men are still facing other corruption charges.

Hosni Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, have been acquitted of charges of embezzlement

Hosni Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, have been acquitted of charges of embezzlement

Ten other defendants were also cleared in Thursday’s verdicts in Cairo.

The case examined whether Ahmed Shafiq had enabled the Mubarak sons – both of whom were prominent businessmen – to buy land belonging to the Egyptian pilots’ association at a cheaper price than the market rate.

Egypt’s Al Ahram reports that the verdict in the second corruption case against Ahmed Shafiq will be announced later on Thursday.

Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak is being held under house arrest following his release from detention in August.

His retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of demonstrators in 2011 is under way, after his conviction in June 2012 was overturned on appeal in January 2013.

Hosni Mubarak is also charged in a further three corruption cases.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest in August.

Mohammed Badie was seized along with other Brotherhood figures after the Egyptian army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July.

Hundreds of Mohamed Morsi’s supporters were killed in clashes following the ousting.

Mohammed Badie, who is the movement’s General Guide, denied the Brotherhood had acted violently.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest in August

Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest in August

He is facing charges of inciting violence and murder over the deaths of eight anti-Brotherhood protesters outside the movement’s headquarters in Cairo.

Mohammed Badie was in court in Cairo along with other Brotherhood figures.

He asked why the death of his son and the burning down of Brotherhood offices were not being investigated instead.

Mohammed Badie was a prominent figure at the Brotherhood’s protest camps in Cairo, but went into hiding as the military-backed interim government increased its efforts to shut down the protests.

His 38-year-old son Ammar was killed in the protests.

In a separate case, Egyptian prosecutors referred the secular activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and 24 others for trial.

They are accused of breaking Egypt’s new laws against protests by demonstrating without permission last month.

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