Egypt’s opposition leaders have begun urging supporters to vote “no” instead of boycotting the upcoming referendum sought by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. The vote will take place this Saturday and one week later as Morsi seeks approval of a constitution drafted by an Islamist panel. On Wednesday, opposition leader Hamdeen Sabahi of the secular National Salvation Front urged opponents of the constitution to take part in the referendum by voting “no.”

Hamdeen Sabahi: “The National Salvation Front confirms the legitimacy of all peaceful means to bring about the cancellation of this distorted constitution. The Front has decided to invite the people of Egypt to go to the ballot boxes and vote 'no.' There is only one way to get the country out of the present deadlock and the political tension, and this is for the president to shoulder his responsibility by issuing a decision to postpone the referendum by two or three months as well as to put in place serious and balanced national dialogue.”

Voting on the constitution began at embassies worldwide on Wednesday for Egyptians living abroad.