Egypt 'narrowly backs' charter in first round

Voting has ended in the first round of the constitutional referendum in Egypt, with both sides saying that supporters of the draft document have a narrow lead heading into the second round.

The early result of the poll is based on unofficial tallies that emerged on Sunday. Complete results are not due to be released until the second round on December 22.

The vote was largely peaceful, with long queues forming in Cairo and other cities and towns where this round of voting was held. The vote was staggered because many judges needed to oversee polling staged a boycott to voice their opposition.

Voting was extended for several hours, in order to allow those in queue to cast their ballots.

"The referendum was 56.5 per cent for the 'yes' vote," a senior official in the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) operations room set up to monitor voting said. The FJP had representatives posted at almost every polling place in the 10 areas where the referendum was held on Saturday.

Opposition officials said that the vote appeared to have narrowly gone in favour of the 'yes' camp.

Late on Saturday, riot police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of hardline Morsi supporters who attacked the central Cairo headquarters of the opposition liberal Wafd Party with fireworks and stones.

Mohamed Morsi, the Egyptian president, and his supporters say the constitution is vital in order to move forward with the country's democratic transition. Opponents say that the basic law is too heavily influenced by religion, and that it tramples on minority rights.

The build-up to the vote was marked by deadly protests, with demonstrations held across the country by both opponents and supporters of the document.

The protests first started when Morsi accorded himself sweeping new powers and fast-tracked the constitution threw an assembly dominated by allies from the FJP.

At least eight people were killed and several hundred injured in a series of clashes between the two camps.

On Friday, a day before the vote, rival factions armed with clubs, knives and swords fought in the streets of Alexandria. Opposition supporters trapped a Muslim preacher inside his mosque after he called for a 'yes' vote.

In order to pass, the constitution must be approved by more than 50 per cent of voters who cast ballots. A little more than half of Egypt's electorate of 51 million were eligible to vote in the first round.

Rights groups reported some abuses, such as polling stations opening late, officials telling people to vote 'yes', bribery and intimidation.

To ensure security during the referendum, 120,000 troops were deployed to reinforce 130,000 police