A policeman walks past a newly built up barrier to hold protesters away from the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo 25 December 2012. Egypt prepared to announce on Tuesday the result of a vote on a new constitution that Islamist President Mohamed Mursi hails as a step toward stability in a country beset by political and economic crisis. (Photo: Reuters - Asmaa Waguih)

December 26, 2012 (TSR) – Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi has signed into law a new constitution voted in despite weeks of opposition protests and low voter turnout.

The national electoral commission said late Tuesday that 64 percent of voters in the two-round referendum backed the new constitution. Turnout was 33 percent it said.

The Islamist-dominated senate convened on Wednesday to swear in 90 new members appointed by Mursi. It was expected to draft a law for legislative elections for the dissolved lower house that have to be held by the end of February.

A policeman walks past a newly built up barrier to hold protesters away from the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo 25 December 2012. Egypt prepared to announce on Tuesday the result of a vote on a new constitution that Islamist President Mohamed Mursi hails as a step toward stability in a country beset by political and economic crisis. (Photo: Reuters – Asmaa Waguih)

The National Salvation Front opposition coalition said it would vie for seats in the parliament, which has powers under the new charter that could hamper Mursi’s ability to govern.

“We will work together to enter the election,” Front spokesman Khaled Dawoud said.

He also said the coalition would legally contest the referendum, which it claims was riddled by fraud. Its supporters had demonstrated since late November against the document, with some clashes with pro-Mursi supporters turning bloody.

Mursi immediately afterwards signed into law the charter, which had been written up by his Islamist allies.

Christians and liberals boycotted the process in protest at changes they saw as weakening human rights, especially those of women, and possibly paving the way for the introduction of a form of fundamentalist Islamic law.

The United States, which gives $1.3 billion a year to Egypt’s influential military, called on Mursi to work to “bridge divisions” with the largely secular opposition.

“We have consistently supported the principle that democracy requires much more than simple majority rule,” acting State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement.

“We hope all sides will re-commit themselves to condemn and prevent violence,” he said.

The political crisis has taken a heavy toll on Egypt’s economy.

The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported there was “Fear in the Egyptian street” after rating agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded Egypt’s long-term credit rating one notch to ‘B-‘.

It said reported that the government has restricted travellers from leaving or entering the country with more than 10,000 dollars.
Mona Mansour, chief economist at CI Capital, said a crucial $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund loan that had been scheduled for this or next month might be postponed until the new parliament is established in March.

The social volatility was seen as making difficulties for Mursi to meet financial reforms, such as tax hikes and subsidy cuts, the IMF was thought to have demanded in return for the loan.

Source: AFP, Al-Akhbar

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