Setback for Morsi’s referendum

The Egyptian judiciary announced Tuesday that judges will not supervise the constitutional referendum scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15 as required by law. This setback came after President Mohamed Morsi gained the army’s consent to protect state institutions, including the right to arrest civilians, until the results are announced of the hotly-disputed constitutional referendum. The judges’ announcement cut through the rising tensions attending two rival demonstrations in Tahrir Square Tuesday night. Opponents of the referendum representing liberals, Christians, women and human rights proponents, called out their supporters, whereas the Muslim Brotherhood mobilized its supporters to counter the protest.