CAIRO
By Amr Emam
Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour on Saturday invited Egyptian voters to cast ballot in a public referendum on January 14 and 15 on a revised version of the country's 2012 constitution.
"This is a constitution that embodies hopes and aspirations of the people of Egypt," Mansour said in a speech to a host of officials, members of a 50-member constitution-drafting panel and party leaders.
"It is the fruit of the knowledge of a select group of Egypt's experts," he added.
Amending the 2012 constitution is the first step in a political roadmap imposed by the military following the July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi.
The transitional plan includes parliamentary and parliamentary elections.
Mansour called for a high turnout in the plebiscite and appealed to the opposition to join the nations' political process.
"It is time to stand against calls for destruction and sabotage by building and serious work," he said.
The interim leader also called on opponents to join in the nation's political process.
"There can be no return to the past," Mansour said. "Egypt's roadmap will move ahead."
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