Update: Security says its ready for constitution referendum January 14 and 15

A national referendum on the amended constitution will be held on January 14 and 15. Interim President Adly Mansour announced the dates Saturday in a live televised speech.

“The Egyptian people gave their word on June 30, and I say there is no going back,” Mansour said, referring to the public protests which called for the removal of former President Mohamed Morsi. “The Egyptian people have sacrificed a lot for their country and now it is time for their ambitions and aspirations to come true,” the president added.

Mansour called on those who have criticized the draft constitution to “have the courage to let go of their stubbornness and arrogance” and join what he called the “national procession” to protect the national interests of the country.

General Ahmed Helmy, assistant to the minister of interior, said Saturday that “the ministry is ready to secure the referendum.”

Helmy added that the ministry has developed security plans in cooperation with the Armed Forces to halt any attempts against what he called “a democratic wedding,” privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported.

Helmy said that  Central Security Forces will take part in securing the referendum, and will be deployed at more than 13,100 polling stations around the country.

“The ministry is responsible for securing the entrances of the polling stations only, and helping the elderly and citizens with special needs,” Helmy said. He added that “no soldier or police officer is to enter any station unless summoned by the judge or the head of the polling station.” 

The conservative Salafi Nour Party said last week that it would take part in the upcoming constitutional referendum and would mobilize for a “yes” vote, party spokesperson Nader Bakkar tweeted on December 5.

An advertising campaign calling for a yes vote began more than three weeks ago. The campaign includes commercials on television sponsored by the advertising tycoon Tarek Nour.

Billboards have sprung up across Cairo, urging citizens to vote “yes,” the slogans used implying that a yes vote for the draft constitution is also a “yes” for both the January 25, 2011 revolution and the events of June 30, 2013, which removed President Morsi from power.