Islamists claim victory in 1st round of Egypt referendum

+Sabrina Cyrus   Islamists claim victory in 1st round of Egypt referendum With the first round of voting over, Egypt's ruling Freedom and Justice Party declared Sunday that citizens had given their thumbs-up to a controversial draft constitution.

But a coalition of 123 local rights groups that monitored the Saturday referendum alleged widespread abuses.

And the nation's electoral commission acknowledged that it received -- and will investigate -- complaints of voter intimidation, bribery and other violations.

The commission said it would not announce official results until after second phase of voting December 22.