Egypt Voter Turnout High Despite Violence

Sporadic violence marred the first day of polling in Egypt Tuesday as voters decide the fate of a revised constitution.
 
Members of Egypt's interim government described the constitutional referendum as the dawn of a new day for their nation -- one full of stability, justice, and free from terrorism.
 
"We are laying the building blocks for a new political foundation in Egypt that will lead to us all working together and starting to build Egypt," Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy told the press after casting his vote.
 
**What will it mean for Egypt if the revised constitution passes? CBN News Correspondent Gary Lane will address that question and more on CBN Newswatch, Jan. 14.
 
But some are still bent on destroying Egypt in the interim. Despite tight security, a courthouse north of Cairo was nearly blown off its foundation Tuesday morning. The bombing occurred just yards away from one polling station.
 
No one was killed in the courthouse blast, but at least five supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi have reportedly died in clashes with security forces in areas of upper Egypt.
 
The Muslim Brotherhood, recently labeled a terrorist organization by the government, has called for a vote boycott.
 
Nevertheless, lines were long at many polling stations Tuesday morning, and a poll taken by the Baseera Group last month indicated a heavy voter turnout. 
Seventy-six percent of respondents said they planned to participate in the referendum; 74 percent of them said they'd vote yes.
 
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, urged Christians to vote 'yes' since the amended constitution guarantees freedom of worship and the building of churches.
 
"It will allow Egypt to go forward to a better future... There is a beautiful saying among Arabs: 'Saying yes increases the blessings,'" the pope said.