Mursi Widens His Powers, Opposition Protests

Local Editor

Egypt's president, Mohamed Mursi, has granted himself far-reaching powers and immunity from legal oversight.

In a surprise move, Mursi, issued on Thursday a series of measures preventing Egypt's courts from challenging any laws or decrees passed since he assumed office in June.
The decrees prevent the courts from attempting to dissolve the upper house of parliament or the constituent assembly which is drawing up the country's new constitution, both dominated by his movement and its allies

"The president can issue any decision or measure to protect the revolution," according to a decree read out on television by presidential spokesman Yasser Ali.
He further stated that "the constitutional declarations, decisions and laws issued by the president are final and not subject to appeal."

Meanwhile, former UN atomic energy agency chief Mohamed al-Baradei lashed out at the declaration, which effectively puts the president above judicial oversight.
"Mursi today usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh. A major blow to the revolution that could have dire consequences," al-Baradei wrote on his Twitter account.

Furthermore, opposition forces in Egypt have called for nationwide protests on Friday.
"This declaration is a coup against legitimacy... We are calling on all Egyptians to protest in all of Egypt's squares on Friday," said the chairman of Egypt's Lawyers Syndicate, Sameh Ashour, at a joint press conference with al-Baradei on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, large protest rallies both in support and against Mursi were staged across the country including the capital Cairo.

The Egyptian President also sacked prosecutor general Abdel Meguid Mahmoud, whom he failed to oust last month, appointing Talaat Ibrahim Abdallah to replace him.
Within minutes of the announcement, the new prosecutor was shown on television being sworn in.
The president in his pronouncements ordered "new investigations and retrials" in the cases dealing with the deaths of protesters, a decision that could net senior military officials and see the toppled President Hosni Mubarak reinvestigated.

Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org