ElBaradei attacked when voting in Egypt's referendum
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Voters wait to cast their ballots for the referendum on constitutional amendments in Cairo, capital of Egypt, March 19, 2011. Egyptians started voting on Saturday morning to decide on constitutional amendments aimed at ensuring free and fair parliamentary and presidential polls later this year. [Xinhua/Wissam Nassar] |
Egypt's prominent opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei was attacked Saturday by stones and bricks thrown from crowds when he arrived at a polling station to vote on the constitutional amendments in Cairo.
A crowd of people shouted "We don't want you" when Baradei came out of his car at a polling station in the El Mokatam area in the capital, witnesses told Xinhua.
People then threw stones at him as he retreated into his car. He left without casting his vote.
Baradei, who intended to run for the presidential polls, has said he would vote against constitutional amendments and called for a new constitution.
He joined the anti-government protests which forced former President Hosni Mubarak to step down on Feb. 11. But he is rather controversial among Egyptians as he has spent more time abroad than in Egypt in recent years.
Egyptians went to the polls on Saturday to decide on the nine amendments of the suspended constitution, which the military hopes to pave the way for fair and free parliamentary and presidential elections later this year.
With some 45 million eligible voters, the referendum has seen a turnout much higher than that of previous elections. But a wide division regarding yes or no to the changes makes it difficult to forecast the results.
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