Egypt to vote on new constitution in effort to avert Morsi crisis
| Cairo
The head of the assembly drafting Egypt's new constitution said the final draft should be finished on Wednesday, as the Islamist-dominated body races to finish a process that has helped to trigger a political crisis.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
The constitution is a crucial element of Egypt's transformation to a new system of government after last year's overthrow of the autocratic president, Hosni Mubarak.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
But it is also one of the reasons why President Mohamed Morsi is at loggerheads with his non-Islamist opponents, in particular over a decree he issued last Thursday that expanded his powers.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
"We will start now and finish today, God willing," Hossamel-Gheriyani, the assembly speaker, said at the start of itslatest session in Cairo.聽
"If you are upset by the decree, nothing will stop it except a new constitution issued immediately."聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
Three other members of the assembly, which is being boycotted by most of its non-Islamist members, said there were plans to put the document to a vote on Thursday.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
A Muslim Brotherhood official who declined to be named also said a quick conclusion of the constitutional process could offer a way out of the crisis, because the decree would be overridden by the new constitution.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
He said Thursday would be a "great day," without elaborating, and called on the members who had withdrawn from the body to return.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
Gheriyani said members should come early to Thursday's session, which would start at 10 a.m.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
Assembly members Younes Makhyoun and Salah Abdel Maboud, both Salafi Islamists, both told Reuters a vote on the final draft was planned for Thursday. Amr Abdel Hadi, one of the few remaining liberal members, said the same.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
"We will finish today and there is agreement on almost all articles ... and then we will start voting," Makhyoun said.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
Leading opposition figure Amr Moussa, who withdrew from the assembly last month, said it was misguided to conclude the process so fast.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
"This is nonsensical and one of the steps that shouldn't be taken, given the background of anger and resentment to the current constitutional assembly," he told Reuters.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽
The assembly has been working since June to finish the document, supposed to be the cornerstone of Egypt's new democracy. It will be put to a popular referendum once the assembly approves it.
