Source: BBC
Egyptians are voting amid tight security in a two-day referendum on a new constitution that could pave the way for fresh elections.
The new charter aims to replace the constitution passed under Islamist President Mohammed Morsi months before he was ousted by the army.
The military wants a strong Yes vote to endorse Mr Morsi’s removal.
His Muslim Brotherhood, now designated a terrorist group, is boycotting the vote. Five people have died in clashes.
One person was killed during an anti-referendum protest in Bani Suef, south of Cairo, the governor there told the BBC.
Three people were killed in clashes with security forces in the Upper Egypt city of Sohag while a further death was reported in Nahia, in the Giza district of Cairo.
Shortly before voting began, an explosion took place near a court building in Cairo’s Imbaba district, although no casualties were reported.
At the scene
James Reynolds, Cairo
Many of the hundreds queuing up at this polling station in Nasr City see the referendum as a personal vote in favour of Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Several military Chinook helicopters flew overhead. A military convoy drove outside the polling station – on the bonnet of one vehicle was a picture of Gen Sisi.
Sally Nabil, Alexandria
It has been a calm morning so far. The security presence is quite heavy, but the forces remained at a distance, keeping an eye all around, whether from the roofs or both inside and outside the polling stations.
Abdel Bassir Hassan, Mansoura
There was a considerable turnout at polling stations during the first hours of the vote, although numbers are reducing as the day goes on.
Ahmed Kilany, Assiut
In the first hours of voting, numbers have been significant, although in the surrounding villages turnout is more limited.
A huge security operation is being mounted for the two days of voting. Some 160,000 soldiers and more than 200,000 policemen are being deployed nationwide.
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.”
The BBC’s Orla Guerin in Cairo says this has been a distorted campaign, with endorsements for the new constitution flooding state-run and private TV and radio.
However, spotting any posters from the No campaign is a lot harder and people have been arrested for putting them up, our correspondent says.
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Categories: Africa