Egypt opposition scorn Morsi concession

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.

Islamists say they see the referendum as sealing a democratic transition that began when a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak 22 months ago after three decades of military-backed one-man rule.

Their liberal, leftist, and Christian adversaries say the document being fast-tracked to a vote could threaten freedoms and fails to embrace the diversity of Egypt’s 83m people.