Germany urges Egypt to probe referendum fraud charges

Germany calls on Egypt to look into accusations of fraud against the constitutional referendum that ended on Saturday Germany urged Egypt Sunday to get to the bottom of allegations of fraud levelled by the opposition after the adoption of a new, Islamist-backed constitution in a referendum. "The reports from Egypt fill me with concern," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement. "The new constitution can only meet with acceptance if the process of its adoption is beyond reproach. Allegations of irregularities must therefore be investigated in a quick, transparent and decisive manner." He said Egypt would only have a successful future "if all social groups reach out to each other". "Not the power of the street but rather the spirit of compromise and tolerance should determine the way forward for Egypt," Westerwelle said. Egypt adopted the new constitution with nearly two-thirds support, official media said Sunday, in a referendum preceded by weeks of sometimes bloody protests. The secular-leaning opposition alleged that fraud handed victory to Islamists backing the "yes" vote on the charter, which it says limits the freedoms of religious minorities and women. It said it would appeal the results. Approval of the constitution would trigger parliamentary elections in two months' time to replace an Islamist-dominated assembly that was dissolved by Egypt's constitutional court before President Mohamed Morsi's election in June.