U.S. Attempts to Realize Morsi Urges Consensus
A referendum to decide the text starts on Saturday in parts of Egypt, including Cairo and Alexandria. The rest will choose a week later, on December 22.
But amid protests for weeks and street demonstrations by opposition supporters and secular Morsi, there are fears of violence and turmoil after eight people were killed and over 600 injured in Cairo last week.
Spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Victoria Nuland said that Washington urged "Egyptian political leaders of all stripes to emphasize to their supporters that any violence during the vote is unacceptable."
"At the same time, we call on the President Morsi, the leader of Egypt's first democratically elected to lead the effort before, during, and after the vote to continue to try to build a national consensus."
Washington was concerned the latest violence could spread and cause further bloodshed, he said.
