Egypt Islamists protest ahead of vote results

Protesters loyal to ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi clashed with police Friday as Egypt awaited official results of a constitutional referendum the army-backed government billed as an endorsement of Mr Mursi's overthrow.

Clashes were reported in Cairo and the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya, while police fired tear gas to disperse a demonstration in Suez itself, security officials said.

The interim authorities trumpeted the two-day poll as a chance for voters to show their support for the army's overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president last July after mass protests on the streets.


Flagship state-owned daily Al-Ahram hailed a 98 percent vote in support of the new charter drawn up the interim authorities to replace the Islamist-inspired one adopted under Mr Mursi's rule in December 2012.

straitstimes