Global Arab Network | Egypt referendum approves constitutional amendments by 77%

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Egypt referendum approves constitutional amendments by 77%

Global Arab Network - - Gamal Ragay

Monday, 21 March 2011 02:00

Chief of the Egyptian Referendum Commission Justice Mohammad Ahmad Atiyya said Sunday evening the constitutional changes were passed with 77.2 percent of the vote in favor and 22.8 percent against.

Announcing the final results of the Saturday landmark referendum in a press conference here, Justice Atiyya said more than 18 million voters cast their ballots including 14 million in favor and four million against.

The turnout topped 41.19 percent since 18,537,954 out of some 45 million eligible cast their ballots, he said, noting that the percentage is a record high.

"The unprecedented turnout shows that the Egyptian voters felt for the first time that their votes have weight and that the election results could reflect their true will," he affirmed.

"The polling was monitored by the judiciary and the civil society organizations as well as Arab and international organizations which were eager to see how Egypt practices democracy after the January 25 revolution," Justice Atiyya pointed out.

At the provincial level, he noted that Alexandria Governorate saw the largest turnout of some 1.5 million voters.

On February 13 the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces invited voters to the referendum on amendments to the constitution to set the stage for holding presidential and legislative polls later this year.

The planned polls will constitute a crucial juncture in the country's power transfer process and democratization.

Ban arrives in Cairo
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived here Sunday leading a large delegation on a two-day visit to Egypt.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces and Defense Minister Field-Marshal Hussein Tantawi on the latest developments of the Libyan crisis and the Middle East region in general.

He will also hold talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Esam Sharaf, Foreign Minister Nabil Al-Arabi and Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Joma'a on the domestic situation in Egypt after the January 25 revolution, the evacuation of Egyptian nationals from Libya, and the unrest in Yemen, Bahrain and Lebanon.

Earlier today Dr. Sharaf met Egypt's permanent delegate to the UN Majed Abdulfattah to arrange for Ban's visit, part of a tour of the North Africa countries that took him to Tunisia.

Global Arab Network

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