On the eve of a crucial referendum in Egypt over a contentious draft constitution, Islamists backing President Muhammed Mursi and the secular opposition held rival rallies and clashed while making last-ditch efforts to swing the vote in their favour.
Nearly 51 million voters will participate in the two-stage vote over the Islamist draft constitution that may seal the fate of the deeply polarised nation.
Clashes erupted between opponents and supporters of the referendum on the draft constitution outside Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria.
The clashes broke out with demonstrators on both sides throwing stones. Hundreds of anti-constitution protesters had gathered earlier outside the mosque.
Alexandria is among the ten governorates, where the first stage of the public vote will take place tomorrow. The other nine are Cairo, Daqahlia, Sharqiya, Assiut, Sohag, Aswan, Gharbiya, North Sinai and South Sinai, state-run MENA news agency reported.
While the second stage, to take place on December 22, will be held in the remaining 17 governorates.
The National Salvation Front of opposition groups organised demonstrations at the presidential palace and in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square today, after deciding to call on followers to vote “no” in the referendum, rather than a boycott.
The opposition fear the draft constitution “gives too much emphasis on Islamic law … They would like to see more emphasis given on rights and freedoms”. In particular, those planning to vote against the draft constitution want additional rights for workers and women.
Pro-Mursi groups lined up on the main roads in Cairo, holding placards that say “Yes to the constitution.”
Also, thousands of people gathered at the Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City in support of Mursi and the draft constitution.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei has pleaded to Mursi to delay the upcoming vote to avoid the “specter of civil war.”