Egyptian riot police clashes with anti-militarists during the first day of voting in the referendum for the amended constitution. 11 were killed on January 14, 2014., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Pro-Morsi forces attempt disruptions of poll on Wednesday
Ahram Online, Wednesday 15 Jan 2014
Limited attempts to disrupt the polling on the decisive charter have been reported as second and final day of vote gets underway
In south Cairo, scores of supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi who oppose the constitutional refendum blocked the Cairo Metro on Wednesday afternoon as they marched along the track of the southern Ain Helwan station, right before the end of the Metro line. Trains stopped running the last two stations in the Helwan direction as a result.
Egyptians resumed on Wednesday morning voting in a constitutional referendum amid some limited attempt to obstruct a vote billed as a first step towards democratic rule.
Supporters of the ousted president have continued protests and organised human chains on Wednesday in several cities outside the capital to call for a boycott of the referendum.
Police in east Alexandria have dispersed clashes between pro-Morsi protesters and local residents, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
The clashes started on Wednesday afternoon when Morsi supporters called for a boycott of the referendum and chanted against the military.
They also torched a police car.
Three people were arrested after being found in possession of leaflets condemning the army and the interior ministry, Alexandria investigation bureau chief said.
Soldiers and police have been heavily stationed across the country to guard the polling stations amid fears deadly violence on the second day might scare voters off.
Also on Wednesday, a group of gunmen stormed a polling station in the southern governorate of Giza, firing in the air, in the Ossim village where a pro-Brotherhood protester was shot dead on Tuesday during clashes with police.Tuesday's clashes erupted when Islamists attempted to bar voters from casting their ballots in a station in the village, Ahram Arabic news website said.
Morsi supporters torched a traffic booth in Roxy Square in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis district on Wednesday afternoon.
The protesters – numbering around 500 – blocked the square, bringing traffic to a standstill, and torched 'yes to the constitution' banners. They quickly dispersed following confrontations with the police. Nine people were killed on Tuesday in clashes outside Cairo between Morsi supporters and police and opposing civilians.
Around 250 people were arrested including Brotherhood members for rioting and disrupting the polling in several areas.
Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi have called for a boycott of the vote.
The state seeks a high turnout in the vote which is also seen as a vote of confidence on the transitional roadmap set by the interim government after the ouster of Morsi in July.
If passed, the constitution, which did away with Islamist-drafted addition of the 2012 document, will be followed by parliamentary elections and a presidential poll by mid-2014.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/91636.aspx
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