Islamist-Backed Constitution Projected To Win in Egypt

Opposition charges vote-rigging

Egypt's Islamists appeared on track to claim victory in a referendum for a draft constitution, despite claims of vote rigging by their secular, liberal and leftist rivals.

Early results in Saturday's first stage of a plebiscite on the proposed charter showed supporters with a narrow but significant lead. The unofficial tally – compiled by independent and partisan monitors at polling stations and published on the website of the state-owned Ahram daily – showed backers of the divisive draft law with 56.5 per cent of the vote.

The opposition National Salvation Front, an umbrella group led by liberal and leftist politicians, claimed a 66 per cent no vote, but provided no detailed numbers to back its figure.