Egypt polls open in controversial referendum

[NewsCaster]

Amr Abdallah Dalsh / ReutersSupporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood chant pro-Morsi slogans during a rally in Cairo on Friday in the runup to Saturday's vote on a draft constitution.By ReutersPolling stations opened Saturday for a controversial vote on an Egyptian constitution promoted by its Islamist backers as the way out of a prolonged political crisis and rejected by opponents as a recipe for further divisions in the Arab world's biggest nation.

Egyptians are to begin two days of voting in a referendum on a divisive draft basic law that has pitted Islamist supporters of President Mohamed Morsi against a liberal, secular and Christian opposition in often bloody clashes in Cairo and other cities.

ANALYSIS: As Egypt votes, what is at stake?

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[Nifemi Donald]

Egypt needs urgent help