The United States was concerned by the lack of consensus in Egypt's constitution drafting process, a U.S. government spokesperson said Friday.

"We are watching very carefully the evolving situation regarding the constitution and the decrees in Egypt. There are clearly strong opinions among Egyptians regard both substance of the draft constitution and the process under which it's been handled," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland at a regular briefing.

She urged the Egyptian government to "respect the views of all Egyptians to allow for peaceful protest, peaceful dissent and transparency." Nuland also called on the Egyptians from all political spectrums to express their concerns and demonstrate peacefully.

Nuland's remarks came after Egypt's Constituent Assembly approved almost unanimously the final draft of constitution early Friday morning. If Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gives a green light to the approved draft, it will go to a referendum.

The constitution writing body rushed through the divisive charter amid large-scale demonstrations protesting a series of constitutional decree issued by Morsi last Thursday.

The new constitutional declaration ruled that all laws, decrees and constitutional declarations issued by the president since June 30, 2012, when he assumed office, are final and unchallengeable by anybody.

Following the 17-hour voting that approved the draft constitution on Friday, thousands of Egyptians flocked to central Cairo's Tahrir square to vent their discontent.

At the briefing, Nuland urged the Egyptians to "participate actively" in the potential referendum to ensure their constitution respect "universal human rights". Endi

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