Egyptians 'say yes' to new constitution

Egyptians have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new constitution drafted by the army-backed interim government, according to early results.

The tally, released on Thursday, also show that turnout in this week's referendum was at least modestly higher than a 2012 constitutional ballot held during the rule of the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi.

An unofficial tally from 25 of Egypt's 27 governorates showed that 97 percent of voters said yes to the constitution, with less than one percent voting no. The remaining ballots were spoiled or otherwise invalid.

There are no results yet from Cairo, the country's most populous governorate, or from North Sinai.

Egyptians are the first free population in recorded history.

Colonel Ahmed Ali, army spokesman.

But turnout was about 38 percent, with 17.4 million people voting, putting it ahead of 2012, when 17 million people participated, roughly 33 percent of registered voters.

Galal Mustafa Saeed, the governor of Cairo, said he expected turnout in the city to top 40 percent, though that figure could not be verified.

Official media hailed the outcome as an "unprecedented majority".

"Egyptians inaugurate a new history for the region," proclaimed the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.

Colonel Ahmed Ali, the army spokesman, said the result "confirms that Egyptians are the first free population in recorded history," according to the official MENA news agency.

The two-day vote was the first ballot since the army overthrew Morsi on July 3, with the new constitution replacing a 2012 one drafted during his short-lived presidency.

Although there there were no reports of violence on Wednesday, at least 11 people were killed in clashes across the country on Tuesday, and a bomb damaged a courthouse in Cairo's Imbaba neighbourhood two hours before polls opened.

The new constitution, like its predecessor, allows the military to prosecute civilians for attacks on army personnel or institutions.