Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, has called on all political forces to engage in dialogue after the passage of the controversial constitution.
The constitution, drafted by an Islamist-majority Constituent Assembly, passed with 63.8 percent approval from voters in a referendum with only around 30 percent turnout.
Ashton said in a statement on Tuesday: “I have followed very closely the holding of the referendum on the draft constitution on 15 and 22 December in Egypt. I welcome the peaceful and orderly environment that prevailed during the vote.”
She added that all parties should enter into discussions to enable “further progress toward deep and sustainable democracy.”
“I urge those concerned, in particular the president, to intensify efforts in this regard,” said Ashton.
Members of the main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, took heart from the low participation rate in the poll, and pledged to continue pressuring Morsy through peaceful protests and other democratic methods.
