"I believe that it will take place in the second half of January," Beblawi told reporters. The referendum had been expected in mid-December.

Egypt's interim government, installed after the army ousted the country's first democratically elected leader Mohamed Mursi on July 3, is pushing through with a roadmap that could lead to presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

A committee of 50 members, few of whom are Islamists, began work in September on amending the constitution that was pushed through by Mursi last year.

The army had given it a 60-day deadline to complete the draft, which would then be put to a referendum.

Leaks of draft amendments of the new constitution show a desire to ease rules banning officials from the Mubarak era to run for office.

NJF/NJF