Egypt referendum: Vote to begin amid tight security
A street vendor sells copies of the new constitution in Cairo Egyptians are to vote in a referendum on a new constitution, which could pave the way for fresh elections.
The new charter aims to replace the constitution passed under Islamist President Mohammed Morsi months before he was ousted by the army.
Correspondents say the military wants a strong "Yes" vote as a popular endorsement of Mr Morsi's removal.
Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which has since been designated a terrorist group, has called for a boycott.
A huge security operation is being mounted amid fears of violence.
The interior ministry says 200,000 police officers, 150 central security units and 200 combat groups are being deployed around polling stations on both days of voting.
Egyptian soldiers stand guard outside a school being used as a polling station 
Advertisements in Cairo's Tahrir Square read: "Yes to the constitution, Egyptians love their country" 
Supporters of ousted leader Mohammed Morsi have continued to stage protests The BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo says there has been a distorted campaign, with endorsements for the new constitution flooding state-run and private TV and radio.
However, spotting any posters from the "No" campaign is a lot harder and people have been arrested for putting them up, our correspondent says.
On Monday, the Strong Egypt party, led by prominent Islamist Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, said it would boycott the vote after several of its members were arrested for campaigning against the charter.
'Critical moment'
The new constitution would replace one approved months before the military ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
Interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi has called the referendum the "most critical moment" for Egypt.
The new constitution was drafted by a 50-member committee that included only two representatives of Islamist parties.
The authorities maintain that the new draft delivers more rights and freedoms, and is a crucial step on the road to stability.
Veteran diplomat Amr Moussa, who headed the committee, told the BBC "everything possible" had been done "to preserve and promote democracy".
"But there are articles and situations that need to be dealt with, bearing in mind the security of the state and the security of the people," he said.
Under the new constitution:
- the president may serve two four-year terms and can be impeached by parliament
- Islam remains the state religion - but freedom of belief is absolute, giving some protection to minorities
- the state guarantees "equality between men and women"
- parties may not be formed based on "religion, race, gender or geography"
But critics say the new constitution favours the army at the expense of the people, and fails to deliver on the revolution of 2011 which overthrew Hosni Mubarak.
Amr Moussa: "There is no 100% in democracy"
It retains a provision allowing civilians to be tried in military courts, and it gives the military control over the appointment of the defence minister for the next eight years.
It also stipulates that the military's budget will be beyond civilian oversight.
A "yes" vote would also pave the way for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections.
It now seems certain that Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief who backed Mr Morsi's removal following mass protests, will run for president.
Turnout 'key'The constitution is expected to attract a resounding "Yes" vote, but the turnout is key, analysts say.
The last charter, passed just over a year ago, was approved by 63.8%, but only 32.9% of the population voted.
A much larger turnout would allow the interim government to present the vote as one that legitimises Mr Morsi's removal.
Mohammed Morsi was Egypt's first democratically elected president but was deposed by the military in July.
He is being held in jail in Alexandria, facing several criminal charges relating to his time in office - which he says are politically motivated.
Many of the Muslim Brotherhood's senior leaders and the movement's supporters are also behind bars.
More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mr Morsi's overthrow.
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