Egypt - President Mursi Revokes Decree On Judiciary
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Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi revoked a decree that had increased his powers and Vice President Mahmoud Mekki said the army has been mobilized to maintain security.
The reversal of the Nov. 22 decree, which had exempted Morsi's decisions from judicial review, was announced by Mohamed Salim El Awa, a former presidential candidate, who read a televised statement from a legal committee impaneled to review Morsi's action last month.
A referendum next Saturday on a new constitution won't be postponed, according to the statement. If the document is rejected, a new constitutional committee would be seated within three months to draft a new constitution.
Mekki announced the army's mobilization in a statement televised by Al Arabiya. Egypt's cabinet approved a measure allowing the army to use the force "necessary to perform their duty" to maintain security and protect vital state institutions, Cairo-based Al Ahram newspaper said Saturday.
Also Saturday, opposition supporters began a third week of rallies outside the presidential palace to protest both a draft constitution, which they say is biased toward Morsi's Islamist supporters, and the decree.
Morsi is "seeking to re-establish dictatorial rule in Egypt" by using the military to promote a political stance, Gamal Eid, a lawyer who heads the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said by telephone from Cairo. The activist likened Morsi to former President Hosni Mubarak, whose February 2011 ouster was the result of an uprising that included the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Morsi was a member before assuming the presidency.
"The decree gives the army the right to arrest civilians, a right previously reserved for police officers alone, and that means that Morsi is seeking the army's help against his opponents, which means more blood and more violence," Eid said.
Politicians were among public figures arriving at the palace Saturday for talks the government said were an attempt to resolve the crisis, according to government-run television. Opposition groups followed through on a pledge to boycott the gathering.
The National Salvation Front, the al-Wafd Party and the April 6 youth movement had rejected the president's offer Thursday of "comprehensive" discussions about the proposed constitution. Secular activists and other opposition groups say the constitution was hijacked by Islamists and are demanding that Morsi abandon the referendum.
Protests against Morsi and escalating violence threaten to derail Egypt's efforts to establish a democracy after last year's uprising and to revive an economy that has stalled as the upheaval has kept investors and tourists away.
Mekki had said Saturday that Morsi may be willing to delay the public vote on the constitution. The government delayed Saturday's scheduled start of voting in the referendum by expatriate Egyptians to Wednesday, according to Ahram Online.
A referendum next Saturday on a new constitution won't be postponed, according to the statement. If the document is rejected, a new constitutional committee would be seated within three months to draft a new constitution.
Mekki announced the army's mobilization in a statement televised by Al Arabiya. Egypt's cabinet approved a measure allowing the army to use the force "necessary to perform their duty" to maintain security and protect vital state institutions, Cairo-based Al Ahram newspaper said Saturday.
Also Saturday, opposition supporters began a third week of rallies outside the presidential palace to protest both a draft constitution, which they say is biased toward Morsi's Islamist supporters, and the decree.
Morsi is "seeking to re-establish dictatorial rule in Egypt" by using the military to promote a political stance, Gamal Eid, a lawyer who heads the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said by telephone from Cairo. The activist likened Morsi to former President Hosni Mubarak, whose February 2011 ouster was the result of an uprising that included the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Morsi was a member before assuming the presidency.
"The decree gives the army the right to arrest civilians, a right previously reserved for police officers alone, and that means that Morsi is seeking the army's help against his opponents, which means more blood and more violence," Eid said.
Politicians were among public figures arriving at the palace Saturday for talks the government said were an attempt to resolve the crisis, according to government-run television. Opposition groups followed through on a pledge to boycott the gathering.
The National Salvation Front, the al-Wafd Party and the April 6 youth movement had rejected the president's offer Thursday of "comprehensive" discussions about the proposed constitution. Secular activists and other opposition groups say the constitution was hijacked by Islamists and are demanding that Morsi abandon the referendum.
Protests against Morsi and escalating violence threaten to derail Egypt's efforts to establish a democracy after last year's uprising and to revive an economy that has stalled as the upheaval has kept investors and tourists away.
Mekki had said Saturday that Morsi may be willing to delay the public vote on the constitution. The government delayed Saturday's scheduled start of voting in the referendum by expatriate Egyptians to Wednesday, according to Ahram Online.
