President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood¹ have endorsed² the document, but critics say it is poorly drafted and favours Islamists.

 

Violent incidents were reported during voting, but not the widespread clashes that preceded the poll. 

 

Early indications suggested that a majority of those who have voted so far may have backed the document. 

 

A Muslim Brotherhood official told Reuters news agency that 56.5% backed the text, according to the party's tally³.

 

Opposition⁴ officials were also quoted as saying the "yes" vote appeared to be ahead.

 

Official results are not expected until after the second round, next Saturday.

 

Analysts⁵ say the second round is likely to give another "yes" vote as it includes districts seen as more sympathetic towards Islamists.

 

Turnout was unofficially estimated at around 32%. If confirmed, that would be far lower than the presidential or parliamentary elections following the fall of Hosni Mubarak.

 

A group of seven Egyptian human rights organisations reported widespread irregularities at polling stations.

 

They told a news conference they had reports of people falsely identifying themselves as judges, of women being prevented from voting, of some polling centres closing early and of some Christians⁶ being denied entry to polling stations.

 

The rights groups called on the election commission to prevent the same violations⁷ in the second round, and for the first round to be repeated.

 

The opposition National Salvation⁸ Front (NSF) reiterated⁹ its allegations that balloting¹⁰ had been "marred¹¹ by irregularities and violations".

 

It said it would "not recognise any unofficial result" and would wait for the formal tally after the second round.

 

The head of the NSF, Mohamed ElBaradei, who is a former chief of the UN nuclear energy agency, tweeted: "Country split, flagrant（公然的，不能容忍的） irregularities, low turnout, disillusion¹² w(ith) Islamists on the rise. Illiteracy¹³ remains¹⁴ a hurdle¹⁵."

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