Egypt gets first taste of democracy after Mubarak

Queues had formed outside voting centres even before polls opened at 8:00 am (0600 GMT), something unheard of in the Mubarak-era when turnout for elections was always tiny as voters assumed their ballots would make no difference.

"Your vote counts," said a public service message broadcast repeatedly over radio stations on Saturday morning.

Just five weeks after the veteran strongman quit, the estimated 45 million eligible voters have the chance to give their verdict on the transitional military government\'s plans for a swift return to civilian rule.

Voters were asked to say "yes" or "no" to a package of constitutional changes intended to guide the Arab world\'s most populous nation through fresh presidential and parliamentary elections within six months.

An appointed panel of experts drew up the proposed amendments in just 10 days, as the military council which took over on Mubarak\'s resignation strives to hand over the reins of power as quickly as possible and keep the army above the political fray.

But the hasty, improvised nature of the proposed constitutional underpinnings of Egypt\'s promised new democracy has driven many of the leading groups and figures behind the victorious protest movement to urge a "no" vote.

"Most of the people who triggered the revolution are going to say no," said former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who is one of the declared contenders to stand for president and is a staunch opponent of proposed of the military\'s transition plans.

Most of the amendments are by themselves uncontroversial, although critics argue they do not go nearly far enough in overhauling the Mubarak-era charter, which they say needs to be completely rewritten.

ElBaradei said they dealt only with "minutiae".

The president would serve a maximum of two four-terms and would no longer have the power to refer civilians to the military courts.

The state of emergency which has governed Egyptian life for decades could only be imposed for six months without endorsement in a popular referendum.

Restrictions on who can stand for president would be eased, if not entirely relaxed, and judicial supervision of all elections would be restored to prevent vote-rigging.

The head of the judicial commission overseeing the referendum, Mohammed Atteya, hailed it as among "the first fruits of the revolution" which overthrew Mubarak\'s regime at the cost of at least 384 lives.

"This is the first time in Egyptian history voters would be participating in a political process that is both credible and transparent," he said.

The main advocates of a "yes" vote have been the Muslim Brotherhood -- powerful and well-organised despite being outlawed under Mubarak -- and elements of his former ruling National Democratic Party.

Critics say they are the ones who stand to benefit if elections are held too quickly, without giving time for groups stymied by three decades of authoritarian rule to organise at grass roots level.

"The Islamists are telling everyone it\'s against God\'s will to vote \'no\'," said architect Ahmed Sabri, 35, who was among 50 or so people waiting to vote at a polling station in the Kasr El-Dobara school in Cairo.

"Islamists are not Egypt, so if we don\'t go to vote for a completely new constitution, the coming election for parliament will not represent Egypt," he added.

The military itself has been studiously non-partisan, urging "yes" and "no" supporters alike to turn out.

There have been no opinion polls in the run-up to the referendum and assessments of its likely outcome have been as divided as views about the proposed changes.

Some analysts predict a majority "yes" vote, at least outside the big cities, given the strong support of the Brotherhood, and the perceived backing of the army, whose popularity is running high after it sided with the protesters against Mubarak.

Others are more sceptical, pointing to the widespread economic discontent in the provinces that has sparked a wave of strikes and walkouts.

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