Originally posted by Wikinews. Wikinews content appears under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license except where specified. As these articles are static snapshots of news items that may be later updated, they may not represent the latest or final revision of that article, and posted information may be only preliminary. Egyptian voters approve constitutional changes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 22, 2011 Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Egyptian_voters_approve_constitutional_changes In a held Saturday, Egyptians voted overwhelmingly to amend the nation's constitution immediately, moving Egypt closer to a , according to results announced today. Electoral officials said 77% of voters endorsed a set of s that included limiting presidential terms, removing limitations on forming , and holding a within six months. Many of the mostly protest leaders who headed the leading to 's resignation were opposed the amendments, not wanting to hold elections so quickly. , winner of the , said the nation needed more political maturity before holding elections so soon. Leaders of Egypt's also were against the amendments. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group previously banned under Mubarak's rule, and the , Mubarak's ruling party, were almost alone in supporting the amendments. Each hoped that its strong organization would give it an advantage in electing the parliament members who will write the new constitution. Approximately 18 million people, 41% of those eligible, voted, according to electoral officials. This is in contrast to parliamentary elections held four months ago, when the turnout was only six million. Although there were some problems at the voting places, observers said these were mostly due to the military's hasty preparations, not wrongdoing by officials. Opposition leader was prevented from voting by men throwing stones in the worst incidence of sporadic violence. The results were met with jubilation by Egyptians; in , horns were honked and fireworks set off. The elections are considered the first in decades not rigged in favor of one party. "It's not important what the result is, it's important that it was fair," said a revolutionary leader, Abdul Rahman Yusuf. == Sources == * http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-referendum-20110321,0,6450273.story * http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703292304576212680100740432.html * http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/20/110753/egyptians-vote-for-changes-that.html .