Opposition calls on voters to say "no" in Egypt's constitutional referendum

Egypt's opposition on Friday called on its supporters to vote "No" in a crucial referendum on a disputed constitution drafted by Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi.    

"The National Salvation Front believes in the capability of the Egyptian people to turn down this constitution, that is lacking the principle of national consensus," said National Salvation Front representative Hamdeen Sabahi after the opposition group's meeting on the eve of the referendum.    

The moves reinforced the atmosphere of a nation in crisis, deeply divided over whether Egypt might move toward Islamic theocracy or retain its secular traditions.   

Egypt's crisis began on Nov. 22 when Morsi issued decrees, since rescinded, that placed him above judicial oversight.        

The crisis also has united the long fractured opposition, which had considered boycotting the referendum but instead officially launched a campaign calling on voters to go to the polls and reject it.    

At the heart of the standoff now is the draft charter, which Morsi's opponents contend allows religious authorities too much influence over legislation, threatens to restrict freedom of expression and opens the door to Islamist control over day-to-day life.    

The fallout has left Egypt the most divided it has been since Hosni Mubarak's ouster nearly two years ago.     

It pits Morsi, his Muslim Brotherhood and ultraconservative Islamists on one side, against the rest of the country, including liberals, leftists and Christians, on the other.    

The opposition's chances of overturning the charter hinge on whether it can bring out its supporters to the polls.    

The Islamists are disciplined voters and have portrayed a 'yes' vote as one for Islam and a 'no' vote as one for immorality.     

But in many ways, the pros and cons of the draft constitution have been overshadowed by.      

With killings and mass street protests defining the past three weeks, newspaper and TV commentators have warned of a country moving toward civil strife and a schism that may not be bridged.


APTN