Students fight security forces in Egypt ahead vote

January 12, 2014 07:45 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 09:31 pm IST - CAIRO

In this January 9, 2014 photo, Egyptian Salafis attend a conference to hear a lecture entitled “Know Your Constitution,” ahead of a two-day vote on a draft amendment in El-Saf village, 50 kilometres south of Cairo, Egypt.

In this January 9, 2014 photo, Egyptian Salafis attend a conference to hear a lecture entitled “Know Your Constitution,” ahead of a two-day vote on a draft amendment in El-Saf village, 50 kilometres south of Cairo, Egypt.

Hundreds of students supporting Egypt’s ousted President are battling security forces at a main Cairo university two days before a planned vote on a draft constitution.

The clashes on Sunday came as Egypt’s Interim President Adly Mansour urged voters to head to the polls to cast ballots on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr. Mansour said that the draft charter used “moderate” Islam as a base for legislation. He also asked voters “to lead the ship of the nation to the shores of safety”.

Egypt’s more than 52 million voters will decide whether to support amendments to the constitution initially drafted under toppled Islamist President Mohamed Morsy. The military overthrew Mr. Morsy in a popularly backed coup in July.

The military-backed interim government sees the vote as a milestone in legitimizing Mr. Morsy’s removal.

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