INTERNATIONAL in brief

Egypt's Christian minority rally behind charter

AZIYAH, Egypt (AP):

Hymns echoing from the new church in this village in Egypt's southern heartland could be heard well after sundown, a reminder of the jubilant mood as Aziyah's Christian residents voted on a new constitution.

Outside in the dusty streets, volunteers hurriedly arranged for buses to transport voters to polling stations before they closed on Wednesday night. In past elections, Islamists used fear or intimidation to stop Christians from voting against them.

This time around, Aziyah's Christians faced no obstacles on their way to the ballot box.

"I cast my ballot as I pleased. I am not afraid of anybody," said Heba Girgis, a Christian resident of the nearby village of Sanabu, who said she was harassed and prevented from casting a vote against the 2012 Islamist-backed constitution. "Last time I wanted to say no. I waited in line for two hours before the judge closed the station."

Experts see possible charges in NJ bridge scandal

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP):

The George Washington Bridge traffic jam that was apparently engineered by allies of Governor Chris Christie as political payback could lead to criminal charges such as conspiracy or official misconduct, legal experts say.

Also, those involved in the lane closings could be charged with perjury or obstruction if they lied to or misled investigators, or if they produced documents after the fact that were designed to thwart an investigation.

"To me, the most plausible course for a federal criminal investigation would be to see if there's any cover-up," said Rutgers University law professor, Stuart Green, adding that under the law, the conduct being covered up does not have to be criminal in itself.

Federal prosecutors and both houses of the state Legislature are investigating the scandal, which broke wide open last week with the release of emails and text messages suggesting that a top Christie aide ordered the lane closings in mid-September to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, who did not endorse the Republican governor for re-election.