Egypt gets first people-approved constitution but many unhappy

Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Mursi signed into law the country's post revolution constitution last night after the election authorities declared it overwhelmingly approved in a two-stage referendum that was held on December 15 and 22.

Announcing the final results of the referendum live on state-run Nile News TV last night, the High Judicial Elections Commission said nearly two-thirds of voters have supported the proposed charter.

Soon after the announcement, Mursi signed a decree putting into effect the first post-revolution Constitution, presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said.

According to the Higher Elections Committee (HEC) 63.8 per cent of Egyptians voted in favour of the Constitution against 36.2 per cent against it, giving Islamists their third straight victory at the polls since Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 revolution.

The 'Yes' vote also paves the way for a parliamentary election in about two months, that will see another round of electoral battle between the Islamists and their liberal and leftist opponents, whose camp is saddled with the disappointment of the referendum.

"The results was so odd and no change in the percentage points (after the unofficial count) shows that nothing was done to take our complaints into account," Khaled Dawood, an opposition spokesman, said.

The constitution was drafted by a panel body dominated by Mursi's Islamist allies. The opposition had demanded a recount, charging that there were widespread irregularities in the vote.

"We have seriously investigated all the complaints," said Samir Abul Maati, head of the Supreme Election Committee, putting the official turnout at 32.9 per cent. (MORE)