Hundreds injured in deadly Egyptian protests

>> thank you very much.

>> angry protestors are now advancing towards the presidential palace in cairo right now. they have not breached the palace gates we're told, but they have overtaken the aadjacent streets to the palace. this as the main opposition coalition is rejecting a formal offer for talks with egypt 's president mohamed morsi. nbc is in cairo on this friday afternoon, friday night there in cairo . before we get to the protestors, sir, i know you have new information about voting on the country's draft constitution . what can you tell us about that?

>> reporter: that's right, craig. in fact, breaking news just coming here it to nbc. that is that the vote scheduled to begin tomorrow for all egyptians living abroad. this was a vote on egypt 's new draft constitution set to take place at embassies around the world. that vote now has been delayed according to egypt 's electoral commission . the reason it's so important is because it is an indication as to the insight perhaps of egypt 's president more hhamed morsi and what's taking place on the streets. protestors demand that president morsi rescind a decree that gave him absolute powers that he issued two weeks ago. also, they wanted to see president morsi delay the vote that was scheduled to take place on december 15th inside the country on this new draft constitution . while he has gone aahead and delayed that vote for egyptians living abroad. that was supposed to start tomorrow, and now people think and are hoping that perhaps between now and december 15th he will also consider delaying the vote on that constitution . it would be a major victory for egypt 's liberal opposition wo for now has refused to talk to president morsi directly. there are low-level meetings with smuft smaller opposition forces scheduled it to take place tomorrow at the presidential palace . right now the major bloc of the opposition refuses to meet with president morsi.

>> i understand that president morsi spoke to egyptians yesterday. that does not seem to have squashed the outrage as well. what are they demanding?

>> well, there's two central points to the demands of the protestors now outside the presidential palace . the constitution that is now scheduled to be voted on december a15th they argue doesn't represent all egyptians . they say it was drafts by parties that's not inclusive and not clear and mediocre. they want a constitution more inclusive and represents all egyptians . the problem is they don't have enough time to drive home a new consensus or draft constitution . that's why they're demanding president morsi delay the vote. the other thing that triggered all the protests two weeks ago he issued a decree that gave himself absolute powers. essentially the ability to make laws above judicial review . they want that decision as well immediately revoked by the president so they don't feel this country is going back to a dictatorship like they fought for two years ago.

>> thanks always, sir. do appreciate that.