Africa: New Road Map For Egypt As Country Votes For Constitutional Referendum by Benson Agoha

* Egypt.

A new road map is in sight as Egyptians are today and tomorrow heading to the polls to vote in a constitutional referendum to adopt a new constitution that will guide the country to transition to civilian rule.

Interim President Adly Mansour announced the dates on December 14, 2013 when he said that the referendum will take place on January 14 and 15, 2014. He said then the referendum would be historic for Egypt, because "..it will help define the country's history."

As the referendum get's under way, Media reports say, deposed former President Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt from 1981 to 2011, and handed power to the military when he was forced to resign on 11 February 2011, after 18 days of demonstrations, applied to the authorities to allow him to vote in the referendum.

But media reports say his lawyer, Farid Al-Deeb confirmed the austed former president submitted a formal request to the Higher Elections Committee asking to vote in the referendum, according to Egypt Independent.

A total of 52,742,139 voters, spread over 30,317 sub-committees, are eligible to vote in the referendum and 13,867 judges are monitoring the project.

Voting started from 9am and will go on until 9pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, 14 and 15 January.

As it gets under way, a government official waiting to vote was reportedly encouraging intending voters to cast a `Yes' vote.

Leila Fadel tweeted "..a government official in line to vote says "u r only Egyptian if you vote yes to constitution".

As Mubarak is still facing a retrial for alleged murder of protesters during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, as well as other charges related to financial corruption and abuse of power, it is not clear whether his request to vote will be allowed.

* Twitter: @bensonagoha.

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