CAIRO, Jan 15 (Aswat Masriya) The Egyptian authorities started blocking roads leading to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday in preparation for closing it to traffic and pedestrians, reported the state news agency MENA.

Closing the square, located in downtown, comes as a precautionary measure that coincides with the end of the constitutional referendum on Wednesday night, according to MENA.

Egyptians started voting on a draft constitution on Tuesday in a referendum seen by the interim government as a stepping stone towards democracy, but by Islamists, who will boycott it, as illegitimate.

Supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi tried to enter the square, an iconic figure for the 2011 uprising, in order to stage protests against his ouster in July following mass protests against his rule.

Tahrir Square has been closed several times since the crackdown on the two pro-Mursi protests camps in August.