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deadly clashes have marred the first day of a two-day vote in egypt over the country's
new constitution. at least eleven people were killed tuesday
as supporters of deposed president mohamed morsi clashed with security forces.
kwon soa reports. a bomb exploded in cairo tuesday... just before polling stations opened
for the national vote on a new constitution .
no one was hurt but at least eleven people were killed in other incidents connected to
the referendum despite tightened security for the vote.
at least five deaths resulted from clashes between security forces and supporters of
former president mohamed morsi who was ou sted by the military last year.
the military-backed interim government wants the new charter to replace the constitution
passed while morsi was in power. it hopes to win strong backing in order to
validate its removal of the country's first democratically-elected president.
so how would life in egypt change under the new constitution
under the new charter equality between men and women and freedom of belief will be guaranteed
parties will not be permitted to be formed on the basis of religion race gender or geography
and the president can be impeached by parliament .
i came out because this constitution is the best constitution we have had and was done
by professionals. first of all it respect s human rights and freedom of religion. it's
a civil constitution for a civil advanced state and this is what we were wishing for
.
morsi supporters are boycotting the vote.
we can never participate and give legitimacy to a regime which fools the people and tr
ies to act like it is a civil democratic regime . it is neither democratic nor civil.
the referendum is expected to receive mostly 'yes' votes but analysts say the turnout is
important too. less than 33 percent of the population vot
ed for last year's charter. this vote is the third in three years and
nearly 53 million people are eligible to cast their ballot.
a positive result could also pave the way for fresh presidential elections.
the chief of egypt's army general abdel fatt ah al-sisi who led the ouster of morsi has
emerged as a strong candidate. kwon soa arirang news.