Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi announced that a referendum on a new constitution would be held in two weeks, brushing off critics, political opponents and segments of the population who have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the whole process.

"I tell our great people, the opponent before the supporter, help me with all your strength to fulfill the responsibility that you have entrusted upon me to manage the nation's affairs," said Mr. Morsi in a speech at a televised official ceremony during which he received a copy of the final draft and set a Dec. 15 date for the referendum.

"This responsibility makes it imperative in front of God, you, the Egyptian nation and the world that I forge ahead and not hesitate to carry out the will of this nation," added Mr. Morsi.

In the backdrop of the announcement hundreds of thousands of Islamist supporters of Mr. Morsi rallied in Cairo.

Underscoring the deep divisions in the country, most of the speakers railed against judges, secularists and liberal figures and the media.

The Islamist show of force came one day after Mr. Morsi's critics slammed the country's draft constitution after it emerged from a hasty all-night session, with opponents charging the document was a jumbled attempt to impose Islamic law produced by what they called an unrepresentative body dominated by Islamists.

The draft charter, which the president vowed to put to a national vote, emerged a week after Mr. Morsi issued a decree broadly expanding his powers, spurring violent rallies against the president in the worst crisis of his five-month term.

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