Egypt's VP Resigns Ahead of Vital Referendum Results

Egypt's Vice President Mahmoud Mekki has resigned on the day of the final round of the country's constitutional referendum.

Egypt's draft constitution does not mention the post of vice president and it is therefore inferred that the post has been removed, Ahram Online has noted.

However, a statement by Mekki has hinted that the motive of his hurried departure could be linked to the policies of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

In his statement, Mekki says that the nature of politics does not suit his professional genesis as a judge.

Egypt's draft constitution has provoked weeks of rallies and sparked clashes between opponents of President Mohamed Morsi and Islamist supporters. Bloomberg has reminded that secular and youth groups say the charter, which was approved by an Islamist-dominated panel, limits freedoms and is unrepresentative of Egyptian society.