Egypt election commission set for vote on charter

AAA??Dec. 3, 2012?5:24 AM ET
Egypt election commission set for vote on charter
By HAMZA HENDAWIBy HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press??

Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans as riot police, left, stand guard in front of the entrance of Egypt?s top court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans as riot police, left, stand guard in front of the entrance of Egypt?s top court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A girl with the colors of Egypt's national flag and Arabic that reads, "Egypt, Morsi," painted on her face attends a demonstration in front of Egypt?s top court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi hold a placard with Arabic that reads, "the people want to solve the constitution," outside Egypt's top court in Cairo, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans in front of Egypt?s top court, background, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A Supporter of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi flashes the Victory sign, as riot police gurad the entrance of Egypt?s top court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Egypt?s top court announced on Sunday the suspension of its work indefinitely to protest ?psychological and physical pressures,? saying its judges could not enter its Nile-side building because of the Islamist president?s supporters gathered outside. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

CAIRO (AP) ? The Egyptian president's top legal adviser says the country's election commission has begun preparations for the referendum on a highly contentious draft constitution.

Mohammed Gaballah said Monday that the commission, which is composed of senior judges, began meeting a day earlier to organize the Dec. 15 referendum.

Gaballah claimed that judges will oversee the vote despite a strike by the judiciary to protest a set of decrees issued by President Mohammed Morsi that place him above judicial oversight.

According to Egyptian law, judges must observe the voting at polling stations.

Morsi's decrees also gave immunity to the Islamist-led constituent assembly, which hurriedly approved the draft charter last week despite an opposition boycott.

The president's decrees have split the nation, and plunged Egypt into a deepening political crisis.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-03-Egypt/id-d6afb73fd49e42038ce7bf840e38e7ed

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