Egypt’s big ‘Yes’ in referendum

The head of Egypt’s election commission said last night the new constitution had been passed with a 63.8 per cent Yes vote in a referendum.

According to official results, 32.9 per cent of the country’s voters had participated.

The announcement turns the Islamist-drafted charter into the country’s first constitution since the uprising that forced Hosni Mubarak out of office after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule.

The opposition had campaigned against the constitution, claiming that it would usher in Islamic rule in Egypt and restrict freedoms. It has vowed to challenge the results.