Cairo, Mar 20: Fresh from upturning the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians have voted overwhelmingly to endorse a package of constitutional amendments, paving the way for fresh parliamentary elections.
Over 77 per cent of voters voted in the referendum in favour of the nine constitutional amendments, the country's supreme judicial committee announced, Al Jazeera reported.
The amendments limit the presidency to two four-year terms and lay out the requirement of a public referendum for imposing a state of emergency that lasts longer than six months.
Egypt has been under a state of emergency for the last 30 years. Other amendments in the package make easier the requirements for independent candidates seeking the presidency, besides laying out complete judicial oversight for elections.
Egyptians, who overturned Mubarak's government in a peaceful but relentless mass campaign, had voted enthusiastically for the referendum yesterday.
While Egypt's two main political forces, the former ruling National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood, had both asked people to vote a "yes", other opposition groups, including, Nobel Laureate Mohammad Elbaradei's camp. have urged people for a 'no' vote.
About 18 million Egyptians went to polls yesterday, a 41 per cent turnout, the pan-Arab channel said. The military-led transitional government has promised to hold free and fair elections in June.
One of the provisions in the amendments requires the new parliament to appoint a constitutional assembly within six months of taking office.
The constitutional assembly will then be responsible for drafting a new constitution, which would be put to another referendum before taking effect.
The military junta sponsored referendum had come in for criticism by four human rights groups, who filed complaints with the higher judicial committee alleging some irregularities during the voting.
The groups, including Observers without Borders, the New World Foundation for Development and Human Rights, said members of the National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood as well as Salafists tried to influence voters during voting held for the constitutional amendments.
Even officials at polling stations attempted to convince voters to vote "yes", they said.
They also alleged that there were no judges at polling stations in Naga Hamadi, Beheira and Mahla EL-Kobra. PTI
