BBC News with Jonathan Izard.

The Egyptian opposition alliance has dropped its boycott of a referendum on a disputed draft constitution, but under conditions that could prove difficult to meet. It wants international monitors to oversee the vote. Leaders of the alliance are calling on their supporters to vote no to the constitution. President Morsi has confirmed that voting will take place on two days. Jon Leyne reports from Cairo.

After a day of confusing developments, a presidential edict was confirmed, calling for voting in the referendum this Saturday and the following Saturday. The main reason for the extra day of polling seems to be a shortage of judges to supervise the polls, as many have called a boycott. By contrast, the opposition leadership have urged their supporters not to boycott, but to take part and to vote no. The very late decision leaves them little time to marshal their supporters, whereas the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist forces are very well-organized and are likely to turn out a large yes vote at the polls.

A meeting of more than 100 nations in Morocco has agreed to recognize the opposition Syrian National Coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people. The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the recognition would open the way for greater humanitarian assistance and possibly military aid for the forces seeking the overthrow of President Assad. His Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, said it was time for tangible action to end the pain of Syrian people. There has been several excuses as if Syrian people are not united. Today we have the representative for the Syrian people, Syrian National Coalition, which we all recognized, and it is time for international community to act.