Egypt Begins Voting in Constitutional Referendum


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Egyptians began voting on Tuesday in a constitutional referendum, the first ballot since the military ousted President Mohamed Mursi and a vote that will likely set the stage for a presidential bid by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Analysts expect a large turnout and many "yes" votes, which could encourage the popular Sisi to contest elections in the most populous Arab state.

Sisi deposed Mursi, Egypt's first freely elected head of state, on July 3 following mass protests against his rule. His Islamist opponents see him as the mastermind of a coup that set off the worst internal strife in Egypt's modern history, Reuters reported.