Egyptians abroad vote, army to host 'unity' talks

Egyptians abroad began voting on Wednesday in a referendum on the new constitution that President Mohammed Morsi fast-tracked through an Islamist-dominated drafting assembly, in a setback for the opposition who had hoped to delay the process.

The official state news agency reported voting had started at Egyptian embassies abroad, the same day as the army scheduled talks between rival factions in Cairo aiming to reunite a country deeply divided by the crisis over the referendum.

Voting on the referendum at home will be spread over two days, Saturday and Dec 22.

The opposition had argued that the chaotic protests and counter-protests which followed Morsi's assumption of sweeping new powers late last month meant the referendum should be postponed, but large opposition rallies this week did not change the president's mind on the matter.

State media said the two-day voting plan had been adopted because many of the judges needed to oversee the vote were staying away in protest at the decision to hold the referendum, so voting had to be staggered to move the judges around.

Morsi was anxious to push through the new constitution as it must be in place before national elections can be held. Those are expected early next year.

In response to the growing political crisis surrounding the referendum, Egypt's military chief was scheduled to host national unity talks later on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is also the head of the armed forces, said the talks would not be political in character. "We will sit together as Egyptians," he said.

Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood were expected to attend, along with the main opposition coalition. The opposition stayed away from an earlier reconciliation meeting called by Morsi last weekend.

Crisis reaching a head

Outside the presidential palace - where anti-Morsi protesters have been demanding the vote on a constitution they say does not represent all Egyptians be postponed - there was skepticism about the latest round of talks.

The army dominated Egypt throughout the post-colonial era, providing every president until Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year.

After his election, Morsi shunted aside generals who had held interim power after Mubarak and appointed a new high command. But the army nonetheless portrays itself as a guarantor of national security.

"Talks without the cancellation of the referendum - and a change to the constitution to make it a constitution for all Egyptians and not the Brotherhood - will lead to nothing and will be no more than a media show," said Ahmed Hamdy, 35, an office worker.

But the fact that the army was calling such talks "is an indication to all parties that the crisis is coming to a head and that they need to end it quickly", he said.

Finance Minister Mumtaz al-Said disclosed on Tuesday that a $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund loan, a cornerstone of Egypt's economic recovery hopes, would be delayed until next month because of the crisis.

Reuters

(China Daily 12/13/2012 page11)