Increase in North Sudanese Armed Forces in Abyei

Satellite images are tracking a build-up of forces in the North Sudanese district of Abyei, where a referendum on joining an independent South Sudan was blocked by violence. Although the referendum in the district was agreed to by both North and South Sudan, Abyei has significant oil reserves and North Sudan is reluctant to lose it in addition to the substantial South Sudanese reserves. More here.

Poll Tampering Claims in Egypt Spread

The Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations is reporting that it has received 39 reports of violations in this past Saturday's referendum on constitutional amendments. The EUHRO's leader himself witnessed a poll worker first attempt to place his ballot in a box that would not be counted and then try to remove his ballot from boxes that were to be counted. More here.

Nag Hammadi Bishop Claims Polling Stations Closed to Copts

Bishop Kyrillos of Nag Hammadi is claiming that Copts were kept from voting in Saturday's referendum in Upper Egypt by the unannounced closing of polling stations in areas predominantly inhabited by Copts. (Unlike Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt still has villages and towns that are primarily or even completely Orthodox.) More here.

Referendum Results in Egypt

Official results in Egypt show that 77% of voters this past Saturday endorsed constitutional amendments that may enable parliamentary elections to be held as early as September. A little over 41% of registered voters participated in the referendum. More here.

Millions Participate in Egyptian Referendum

The BBC is reporting that millions voted in today's referendum in Egypt on proposed constitutional amendments that would allow presidential and parliamentary elections to be held within 6 months. The amendments have been backed by the National Democratic Party (former President Hosni Mubarak's party) and the Muslim Brotherhood, but are criticized by opposition leader Mohammed el-Baradei for not curbing presidential powers. More here.

Constitutional Referendum in Alexandria

Turn-out for today's constitutional referendum in Alexandria, Egypt, was high, with large numbers of Copts voting. It appeared that many Copts rejected the proposed constitutional amendments while supporters of Islamist movements seemed to vote for the amendments. More here.

Pope Shenouda Returns from USA, Urges Egyptians to Vote

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has returned from another trip to the United States for medical care and is urging all Egyptians to vote in Saturday's referendum on proposed constitutional amendments regardless of their opinion on the amendments themselves. More here.