CAIRO 20 Apr (ANA) - Huge banners have urged Egyptians to support constitutional amendments that would keep President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in power until 2030. 

The country began voting on Saturday in a three-day referendum on the proposed changes, a few days after they were approved by a sweeping majority inside parliament. 

"Say yes to stability and security," reads one banner in central Cairo. The new amendments will extend the presidential term from four to six years, and the president can only be re-elected once. 

But Mr Sisi is being given special treatment. 

Not only will his current term be extended to six years, but he will be allowed to run for a third term as an exception. 

The military-backed president, who took office in 2014, was originally meant to leave in 2022 after his second term expires. 

"We are rebuilding through these so-called amendments the state of the single ruler," says Khaled Dawood, a liberal opposition figure. He believes Egypt will go back to "square one, the same autocratic rule it experienced before the 2011 revolution". 

The changes will give President Sisi tight control over the judiciary, with powers to appoint the prosecutor general and all high level judges. 

"This ends the hopes of millions of Egyptians who took to the streets in January 2011, wishing to have a rotation of power and a president who can be held accountable," Mr Khaled adds.(ANA)

FA/ANA/20 April 2019------