Egypt awaits results of constitution referendum Published duration 16 January 2014

image copyright AP

Egyptians are awaiting the results of a referendum on a new constitution, with officials saying it has been overwhelmingly approved.

The draft constitution replaces one introduced by Mohammed Morsi before the Islamist president was ousted.

State media report that 37% of registered voters took part, slightly more than in the vote under Mr Morsi.

The referendum is being seen as a vote on the legitimacy of his removal and of the army, which removed him.

It was boycotted by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement Mr Morsi comes from and which wants to see him returned to office.

On the first day of voting on Tuesday, nine people died in clashes involving Mr Morsi's supporters. The second day passed off largely peacefully.

Some 400 people are said to have been arrested over the two days for disrupting the vote.

On Thursday, police fired tear gas during clashes with students protesting outside Cairo University in the Giza district.

Voter apathy

The state-run Al Ahram newspaper put the unofficial turnout at just under 37% of registered voters.

media caption BBC's Orla Guerin: "It's easy to see what side the police are on"

It projected a more than 90% win by the "yes" campaign in all regions, except for North Sinai, where votes have not yet been counted.

In the December 2012 constitutional referendum - held while Mohammed Morsi was in power and boycotted by secularists - 33% of Egypt's 53 million voters took part. The draft was approved by 64% of voters.

The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says voter participation may not have been as high as the military and the interim government it backs may have liked, but given Egypt's history of low turnouts it is probably enough for them to argue their vision for the country's future has been endorsed.

The high proportion of yes votes is more a reflection of the fact that those opposed to the constitution, including the Brotherhood, boycotted the poll, rather than an indication of a tidal wave of enthusiasm for the document, says our correspondent.

Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is likely see the result as an invitation to run for president when elections take place, he adds.

image copyright Reuters image caption Wednesday's voting passed off mostly peacefully, in contrast to Tuesday. This voter in Tahrir Square was celebrating his participation in the vote

image copyright Reuters image caption The credibility of the referendum is important for the authorities as they try to chart a political roadmap toward new elections for a president

image copyright Reuters image caption Once again security was tight around polling stations

image copyright AFP image caption A police station was set on fire in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis but voting was generally peaceful on Wednesday

image copyright Getty Images image caption As darkness fell after the second day of voting, many Egyptians were keen to celebrate the apparent cementing of a new, post-Morsi era

The new proposed constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.

Critics say the document favours the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the 2011 revolution.

Under the draft:

The president may serve two four-year terms and can be impeached by parliament

Islam remains the state religion - but freedom of belief is absolute, giving some protection to minorities

The state guarantees "equality between men and women"

Parties may not be formed based on "religion, race, gender or geography"

Military to appoint defence minister for next eight years

A huge security operation was in evidence throughout the two days of voting, with some 160,000 soldiers and more than 200,000 policemen deployed nationwide.

Morsi supporters blocked a metro station in a Cairo suburb, stopping some trains, security officials said, but were quickly dispersed by police.

Mohammed Morsi, who was Egypt's first democratically elected president, is being held in jail in Alexandria, facing several criminal charges relating to his time in office. He says they are politically motivated.

More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mr Morsi's overthrow.