Egypt's interim president receives final draft of amended constitution

CAIRO – Egypt's interim president has received the final draft of the country's amended constitution, setting the stage for a referendum on the revisions made by two secular-leaning panels to the 2012 constitution drafted under the ousted Islamist president.

Adly Mansour, who took power after Mohammed Morsi's July 3 overthrow, received the draft on Tuesday during a meeting with the head of the 50-member, head Amr Moussa. Mansour has 30 days to call for a referendum which will be followed by presidential or parliamentary elections as part of a fast-track transition intended to lead to democratic rule.

Finalizing the draft comes amid a heavy-handed security crackdown on Morsi's supporters as well as leading activists protesting a new law that restricts the right to demonstrate.