Referendum Called to Redraft Magna Carta in Egypt
With antagonism as the main factor, Egypt President Mohamed Morsi has convened a referendum for December 15th to redraft an unpopular Constitution.
The announcement resulted in massive demonstrations held throughout the week, with unofficial reports of four deaths and some 600 wounded, against the official decision to assume prerogatives both seculars and liberals wish to eliminate, but government brass consider key to bring national democracy on track.
President Morsi won the presidential race but had declared during his campaign his divorce from the Muslim Brotherhood, though that never really happened and he is now accused of pushing, under the table, some Brotherhood bylaws.
There were rallies on Saturday near the University of Cairo, in Alexandria, northern Egypt, while in other cities security was tightened at government offices and the headquarters of the Brotherhood and its political arm, Liberty and Justice Party.
The 13 days ahead simply stand as a big question mark since the call to the referendum, its approval and subsequent holding of elections to the People’s Assembly will likely not close the gap between followers and detractors of the President.
Bombs Kill 12 Civilians in Afghanistan
At least 12 civilians were killed and 16 wounded, including women and children, when two bombs exploded in eastern and southern Afghanistan, it was reported here.
A blast killed two Afghans in a park in Khost, about 90 miles south of Kabul, said Jabar Nahimi, governor of that province in eastern Afghanistan.
Eight others were injured, including four women and a child, said the source quoted in the digital site icasualties.org.
Previously, a vehicle traveling in a remote area of Oruzgan province (South) made contact with a bomb placed at the edge of a road, which exploded killing at least 10 people and wounding eight others.
Slovenian Ex-Premier Pahor Wins Presidential Election
Former Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor won in the second and final round of the presidential election on Sunday to lead the country for the next five years, the country’s State Election Commission said.
With 99.9 percent of the ballots counted, Pahor garnered 67.4 percent of the vote, while his closest and the only contender, incumbent President Danilo Turk, secured 32.6 percent of the vote.
Sunday’s turnout stood at 41.9 percent out of 1.7 million registered voters, which is the lowest turnout since Slovenia gained independence in 1991.
The country held the second round of the presidential election as both Pahor and Turk failed to pass the necessary 50-percent threshold in the first round in early November. Pahor is expected to take the office on December 23.
Turk has already admitted his defeat and congratulated Pahor with the victory. He also thanked Slovenians for the trust and support during his years of the presidency.
Chosen for a five-year term, the president is a largely ceremonial post in Slovenia. He, however, is a commander-in-chief of the army and the one who proposes candidates to head the national bank.