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GV Sadat posters on wall of polling station as Egyptians wait to cast vote (3 shots)
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SV INT Voters placing ballots in ballot boxes (2 shots)
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SV President Sadat entering polling station and votes (3 shots)
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GV Marchers carrying flags and chanting
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Egyptians voted on Sunday (21 May) in a referendum called by President Sadat who seeks a mandate to clamp down on Egypt's left wing and others seen guilty of corruption.

SYNOPSIS: About ll million Egyptians were expected to vote on President Sadat's proposals which also include measures to discipline the press. There are also proposals to remove politicians who held posts before the 1952 revolution. The referendum follows sharp criticism of the government by the leftist Unionist Party as well as conservatives. President Sadat registered his vote at the village of Miet Abu Elkoum.

President Sadat said he intends to hold a news conference on Tuesday (23 May) to announce the results of the voting which, it is expected, will be in favour of President Sadat's proposals. Last year, Egyptians voted almost one hundred per cent in favour of strict law and order measures proposed by President Sadat after violent riots over food prices. The Egyptian Information Minister Mr. Abdel Moneim Sawi has said that by calling the referendum, President Sadat was exercising his right to ask the people to share the responsibility of planning the nation's policies. If President Sadat,s proposals were approved by voters, Parliament would be called on to legally make clear exactly who would be affected by the measures.