Azernews.Az

Egypt's Islamists on Thursday intensified a campaign to woo voters to approve a disputed constitution in a referendum in two days,Trend news agency reported refering to dpa.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood of President Mohammed Morsi sent delegates to public places, including coffeehouses and social clubs, to promote the charter, which was approved by an Islamist-led constituent assembly and rejected by the opposition as undemocratic.

The group has called the document "Egypt's greatest constitution." The opposition says the constitution could undermine women and political rights, and sideline minorities.

"The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) has started a big campaign to encourage citizens to say 'Yes' to the constitution," said Gamal Heshmat, a senior official in FJP, which is the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm.

"The party is also holding rallies aimed at dispelling the allegations spread by opponents about the new constitution," he told the independent newspaper Al Masry Al Youm.

The main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, Wednesday called for a "No" vote on the constitution. It said it may boycott if its demands for a fair vote are not met.

The hardline Salafists, allies of Morsi, were soliciting support for the constitution through mosque sermons, marches and rallies across Egypt, reported local media.

"Tens of thousands of pamphlets have been distributed to the people explain why they should vote for the constitution," said Alaa Abul Nasr, the head of the Salafist Building and Development Party.

Voting will be held in two stages, the first on Saturday in 10 of Egypt's 27 provinces. The second and final stage is to be conducted in the remaining provinces on December 22.

If the draft constitution is voted down, an election will be held within three months to pick a new constituent assembly.