Polling stations opened on Saturday, Dec 15, in a referendum on a new constitution shaped by Islamist allies of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi and which his liberal rivals say deepens divisions in the nation, Reuters reported.

Voters were allowed to cast "yes" or "no" ballots from 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) until 7 pm (1700 GMT), but the deadline could be extended depending on turnout. The vote has been split into two rounds, each covering different regions with the second next week, because not enough judges agreed to oversee the ballot.

Television images showed some queues in Cairo and elsewhere as polling stations opened.