Riot police have fired tear gas at rock-throwing protesters in central Cairo a day after the president declared a state of emergency in three provinces hit hardest by political violence.

Egypt’s president tonight declared a 30-day state of emergency and night curfew in the three Suez Canal provinces hit hardest by the wave of violence that has left more than 50 dead in three days.

Egypt’s opposition has called for an investigation into allegations of vote fraud in the referendum on an Islamist-backed constitution.

Egypt’s controversial Islamist-backed constitution has been approved, according to preliminary referendum results released by the country’s Muslim Brotherhood today.

Egyptians voted in favour of a constitution shaped by Islamists but opposed by other groups who fear it will divide the Arab world’s biggest nation, officials in rival camps said yesterday after the first round of a two-stage referendum.

Opposing sides in Egypt’s political crisis are staging rallies a day before voting begins on a contentious draft constitution.

Egypt’s Islamist president has given the army temporary power to arrest civilians during a constitutional referendum he is determined to push through despite the risk of bloodshed between his supporters and opponents accusing him of a power grab.

A concession offered by president Mohamed Morsi failed to placate opponents who accused him yesterday of plunging Egypt deeper into turmoil by refusing to postpone a vote on a constitution shaped by Islamists.

Egypt’s liberal opposition has called for more protests on Sunday after the president made concessions overnight that fell short of their demands to rescind a draft constitution going to a referendum on December 15.

Egypt delayed early voting on a contentious draft constitution and might even call off the entire referendum, in the first signs that Islamic leader President Mohammed Morsi is finally yielding to days of protests and deadly street clashes.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets after Friday midday prayers in rival rallies and marches across Cairo, as the standoff deepened over what opponents call the Islamist president’s power grab, raising the spectre of more violence.

Islamists approved a draft constitution for Egypt early today without the participation of liberal and Christian members, seeking to pre-empt a court ruling that could dissolve their panel with a rushed, marathon vote that further inflames the clash between the opposition and President Mohammed Morsi.

Egypt's judges have joined the stand-off between the country's Islamist President and democracy activists.

Exit polls show Romania’s ruling party leading in parliamentary elections, but forced into a runoff in the race for president.