Egyptians hand Islamists narrow win in constitution vote

[pwaldo]

http://news.yahoo.com/violence-flare...033934702.html

Egyptians voted in favor of a constitution shaped by Islamists but opposed by other groups who fear it will divide the Arab world's biggest nation, officials in rival camps said on Sunday after the first round of a two-stage referendum.

Next week's second round is likely to give another "yes" vote as it includes districts seen as more sympathetic towards Islamists, analysts say, meaning the constitution would be approved.

But the narrow win so far gives Islamist President Mohamed Mursi only limited grounds for celebration by showing the wide rifts in a country where he needs to build a consensus for tough economic reforms.

The Muslim Brotherhood's party, which propelled Mursi to office in a June election, said 56.5 percent backed the text. Official results are not expected until after the next round.

While an opposition official conceded the "yes" camp appeared to have won the first round, the opposition National Salvation Front said in a statement that voting abuses meant a rerun was needed - although it did not explicitly challenge the Brotherhood's vote tally.

Rights groups reported abuses such as polling stations opening late, officials telling people how to vote and bribery. They also criticized widespread religious campaigning which portrayed "no" voters as heretics.

A joint statement by seven human rights groups urged the referendum's organizers "to avoid these mistakes in the second stage of the referendum and to restage the first phase again".

Mursi and his backers say the constitution is vital to move Egypt's democratic transition forward. Opponents say the basic law is too Islamist and tramples on minority rights, including those of Christians who make up 10 percent of the population.

The build-up to Saturday's vote was marred by deadly protests. Demonstrations erupted when Mursi awarded himself extra powers on November 22 and then fast-tracked the constitution through an assembly dominated by his Islamist allies.

However, the vote passed off calmly with long queues in Cairo and several other places, though unofficial tallies indicated turnout was around a third of the 26 million people eligible to vote this time. The vote was staggered because many judges needed to oversee polling staged a boycott in protest.

Almost 57% of the vote doesn't seem like a "narrow" win to me

[duane1969]

All I can say is this. When the Islamic extremist take over and begin massacring non-Muslims, stoning women to death, beheading their own followers for not being devout enough, forming terrorist training camps, holding public executions, forcing people into slavery...the American people, American government and American military needs to stay out of it. If these people are ignorant enough to put them in power then the things that they suffer are their own fault and they do not deserve for others to risk their lives to help.

[mrveggieman]

All I can say is this. When the Islamic extremist take over and begin massacring non-Muslims, stoning women to death, beheading their own followers for not being devout enough, forming terrorist training camps, holding public executions, forcing people into slavery...the American people, American government and American military needs to stay out of it. If these people are ignorant enough to put them in power then the things that they suffer are their own fault and they do not deserve for others to risk their lives to help.

Wow, Duane a little extreme ya think? I do agree with you that what those people do in their country is their business not ours.

[Wickabee]

Wow, Duane a little extreme ya think? I do agree with you that what those people do in their country is their business not ours.

100% agree. Entirely.

[AUTaxMan]

All I can say is this. When the Islamic extremist take over and begin massacring non-Muslims, stoning women to death, beheading their own followers for not being devout enough, forming terrorist training camps, holding public executions, forcing people into slavery...the American people, American government and American military needs to stay out of it. If these people are ignorant enough to put them in power then the things that they suffer are their own fault and they do not deserve for others to risk their lives to help.

Don't get involved? How much money have we sent the Muslim Brotherhood over there in the last couple of years?

[AUTaxMan]

Wow, Duane a little extreme ya think? I do agree with you that what those people do in their country is their business not ours.

What happens when they attack Israel or the USA?

[mrveggieman]

Don't get involved? How much money have we sent the Muslim Brotherhood over there in the last couple of years?

I have no idea. You got any figures?

[mrveggieman]

What happens when they attack Israel or the USA?

Israel is not our problem. They want to be the baddest kid on the block so let them fend for themselves. If any country unjustly attacks the United States we have the strongest military and they will be dealt with accordingly.

[shrewsbury]

one and a half billion to egypt alone

and as we are trying to legalize gay marriage, they will be imprisoning the gays using our 1.5 billion in help

[Wickabee]

one and a half billion to egypt alone

and as we are trying to legalize gay marriage, they will be imprisoning the gays using our 1.5 billion in help

Was that to the Brotherhood or to Egypt so you can say it's to the Brotherhood?