Country set to approve constitutional changes

CAIRO (AP):

Partial results from a third of Egypt's provinces yesterday showed massive turnout and a vote overwhelmingly in favour of constitutional changes that eliminate restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.

The count from most of the country, including Cairo, was still to be released.

But according to results issued by judges at their respective polling centres, 11 of 29 provinces showed 65 to 90 per cent of voters saying 'yes' to the changes, which would allow parliament and presidential vote no later than September.

The partial, preliminary results also showed 70 per cent turnout at many polling centres, a massive showing after decades of political apathy in response to repression.

mobile-phone pictures

Millions of Egyptians voted freely on Saturday for the first time in more than half a century, joyfully waiting for hours to cast their ballots on the package of constitutional changes.

Young people traded mobile-phone pictures of ink-stained fingers that showed they voted. Others called relatives to boast of casting the first vote of their lives. In the well off Cairo neighbourhood of Maadi, a man hoisted his elderly, infirm father on his shoulder and carried him to a polling station.

The first test of Egypt's transition to democracy offered ominous hints of widening sectarian division, however.