From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.Egypt's vice president resigned hours before the final phase of voting on the constitution.NPR's Leila Fadel reportsthe vice president led attempts by the embattled President Mohamed Morsi at national dialogue in the days leading up to the vote on the constitution.Vice President Mahmoud Mekki issued a statement saying he first submitted his resignation to the president early last month,but until today the political climate forced him to stay on.In a statement Mekki said that he realized the nature of politics didn't suit his profession as a judge.The statement hinted a dissatisfaction with Islamist President Mohamed Morsi's policies.Morsi enraged the opposition and a majority of judgeswhen he issued decrees that put himself above the law last month before rushing an imperfect constitution to a referendum.Mekki defended those policies as Morsi's deputy,despite his history as an activist for the independence of the judiciary.It was unclear if Mekki's resignation had anything to do with the clause in Egypt's Constitution that eliminates the position of vice president.Leila Fadel NPR News, Cairo.Police in India used tear gas and water cannons to break up mass demonstrations in the capital, New Delhi today.Protesters are demanding justice for a student who was gang-raped in a bus last weekend.NPR's Julie McCarthy is following the march and says police have also been beating demonstrators.The crowds are choking, putting hankerchiefs over their mouths so that they can breathe.
