CAIRO, December 22 (RIA Novosti) – Egypt’s election committee has extended the vote in the second stage of the referendum on the new constitution by four hours, to 23:00 local time, an election committee spokesman told journalists on Saturday.
The committee explained its actions as being connected with “the long lines of citizens who want to express their views on the draft fundamental law.”
The country's National Salvation Front, an umbrella organization bringing together President Morsi's opponents, has said that it will accept the referendum's results "whatever they may be."
Due to high voter turnout, the vote was also extended in the first round of the referendum last week. During the first round approximately 57 percent of Egyptians voted for the new constitution, with approximately 43 percent voting against.
This referendum, as well as Morsi’s controversial constitutional declaration granting himself expanded powers, have ignited Egypt's worst political crisis since Morsi's election in June.
Morsi's supporters and opponents have been rallying in Cairo and other Egyptian cities since he announced his decision to hold a nationwide referendum on the new Constitution, approved by the constituent assembly last month. Violent clashes between opposing groups over recent weeks left seven people dead and hundreds injured.
(Updated 18:12 with National Salvation Front comment)
