Egypt's ElBaradei pleas for vote postponement
By MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press
Dec 13, 2012 2:50 PM CST
A woman walks past Arabic writings on a wall that read, "no, leave, Muslim Brotherhood," in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. Egypt's opposition called on its followers to vote "no" in a crucial referendum on a disputed constitution drafted by Islamist supporters...   (Associated Press)

Egypt's most prominent democracy advocate has pleaded to President Mohammed Morsi to delay an upcoming vote on a draft constitution to avoid the "specter of civil war."

In an emotional televised message on Thursday, Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei told the Islamist leader, "Fear God, Dr. Morsi and postpone the referendum."

His message comes two days before the Dec. 15 vote on the highly contentious constitution. Morsi and his Islamists allies support the charter while a wide spectrum of liberals, youth groups and others see both the process and the draft as flawed.

ElBaradei also urged Egyptians to vote "No" if Morsi did not cancel the vote.

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