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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Morsi 'power grab' angers Egypt opposition groups | Morsi 'power grab' angers Egypt opposition groups |
| (4 months later) | |
| Egyptian opposition groups are calling for mass protests amid mounting anger at President Mohamed Morsi's surprise decision to give himself, and the Islamist-dominated assembly writing Egypt's new constitution, extraordinary new powers. | Egyptian opposition groups are calling for mass protests amid mounting anger at President Mohamed Morsi's surprise decision to give himself, and the Islamist-dominated assembly writing Egypt's new constitution, extraordinary new powers. |
| Although the opposition has called for a "million man march", recent street demonstrations on the streets of Cairo have been small in comparison with the vast protests that swamped the city during its revolution last year. | Although the opposition has called for a "million man march", recent street demonstrations on the streets of Cairo have been small in comparison with the vast protests that swamped the city during its revolution last year. |
| "This is a coup against legitimacy. We call on all Egyptians to protest in all of Egypt's squares on Friday," Sameh Ashour, head of the Egyptian Lawyers syndicate told a news conference called with two of Morsi's prominent political opponents, Amr Moussa and Mohamed ElBaradei. | "This is a coup against legitimacy. We call on all Egyptians to protest in all of Egypt's squares on Friday," Sameh Ashour, head of the Egyptian Lawyers syndicate told a news conference called with two of Morsi's prominent political opponents, Amr Moussa and Mohamed ElBaradei. |
| Morsi, who was feted on the international stage for his key role in bringing to an end the violence in Gaza, issued the decree on Thursday, which also ordered the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak and officials and security force members accused of killing protesters during the country's revolution. | Morsi, who was feted on the international stage for his key role in bringing to an end the violence in Gaza, issued the decree on Thursday, which also ordered the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak and officials and security force members accused of killing protesters during the country's revolution. |
| Although the ending of impunity for those who had committed crimes during the ousting of Mubarak would be widely popular, opposition groups described other new measures a as a power grab. | Although the ending of impunity for those who had committed crimes during the ousting of Mubarak would be widely popular, opposition groups described other new measures a as a power grab. |
| Presented as a move to "protect the revolution", the decree won immediate praise from Morsi's allies but stoked fears among secular-minded Egyptians that the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies aim to dominate the new Egypt. | Presented as a move to "protect the revolution", the decree won immediate praise from Morsi's allies but stoked fears among secular-minded Egyptians that the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies aim to dominate the new Egypt. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi's supporters insist the move is temporary until a new constitution can be drafted and a new parliament elected. | The Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi's supporters insist the move is temporary until a new constitution can be drafted and a new parliament elected. |
| Morsi already has both executive and legislative powers since the dissolution of the parliament's lower assembly, and has now added what appears to be a monopoly of judicial authority, placing himself beyond the courts while appointing a hand-picked prosecutor without consultation. | Morsi already has both executive and legislative powers since the dissolution of the parliament's lower assembly, and has now added what appears to be a monopoly of judicial authority, placing himself beyond the courts while appointing a hand-picked prosecutor without consultation. |
| It seemed likely to deepen the divisions that have plagued the post-Mubarak era. "These decisions will feed discord in Egyptian politics and will be far from creating a favourable climate for restoration of economic growth," said Mustapha Kamal Al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University told Reuters. | It seemed likely to deepen the divisions that have plagued the post-Mubarak era. "These decisions will feed discord in Egyptian politics and will be far from creating a favourable climate for restoration of economic growth," said Mustapha Kamal Al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University told Reuters. |
| His remarks follow angry criticism on Thursday against the move. | His remarks follow angry criticism on Thursday against the move. |
| ElBaradei accused Morsi on Twitter of having "usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh". | ElBaradei accused Morsi on Twitter of having "usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh". |
| "This is unacceptable, Morsi is preventing the judiciary from doing its job," Emad Gad, political analyst and member of the Egyptian Social Democratic party, told al-Ahram. | "This is unacceptable, Morsi is preventing the judiciary from doing its job," Emad Gad, political analyst and member of the Egyptian Social Democratic party, told al-Ahram. |
| While some commentators have recognised the new powers appear to be aimed at removing the obstacle of a judiciary still dominated by remnants of the Mubarak era who have undermined progress towards a constitution, they are also alarmed by the decree. | While some commentators have recognised the new powers appear to be aimed at removing the obstacle of a judiciary still dominated by remnants of the Mubarak era who have undermined progress towards a constitution, they are also alarmed by the decree. |
| In particular, critics point to Article 6, which states that the "president may take the necessary actions and measures to protect the country and the goals of the revolution" and places the president as the sovereign of the state, as he can "claim exception against all rules". | In particular, critics point to Article 6, which states that the "president may take the necessary actions and measures to protect the country and the goals of the revolution" and places the president as the sovereign of the state, as he can "claim exception against all rules". |
| Some compared it to Anwar Sadat's use of a similar measure in 1979 that was used against opposition figures. | Some compared it to Anwar Sadat's use of a similar measure in 1979 that was used against opposition figures. |
| The decree appeared to remove any uncertainty still hanging over the fate of the assembly writing the constitution. The body has faced a raft of legal challenges from plaintiffs who dispute its legality. | The decree appeared to remove any uncertainty still hanging over the fate of the assembly writing the constitution. The body has faced a raft of legal challenges from plaintiffs who dispute its legality. |
| Critics say its popular legitimacy had been further called into doubt by the withdrawal of many of its non-Islamist members, who had complained their voices were not being heard. | Critics say its popular legitimacy had been further called into doubt by the withdrawal of many of its non-Islamist members, who had complained their voices were not being heard. |
| The constitution is a crucial element in Egypt's transition to democracy. | The constitution is a crucial element in Egypt's transition to democracy. |
| New parliamentary elections will not be held until the document is completed and passed by a popular referendum. | New parliamentary elections will not be held until the document is completed and passed by a popular referendum. |
| The decree also gave the body an additional two months to complete its work, meaning the drafting process could stretch until February, pushing back elections. | The decree also gave the body an additional two months to complete its work, meaning the drafting process could stretch until February, pushing back elections. |
| A number of political groups joined to condemn the decree and said the president "robbed the people and institutions of all the rights and powers", in a statement issued late on Thursday night. | A number of political groups joined to condemn the decree and said the president "robbed the people and institutions of all the rights and powers", in a statement issued late on Thursday night. |
| Among popular measures in the decree, however, is the decision to retry Mubarak, 84, who was sentenced to life in prison in June for failing to prevent killings that claimed the lives of some 800 people that occurred during the uprising that led to his fall in February last year and after. | Among popular measures in the decree, however, is the decision to retry Mubarak, 84, who was sentenced to life in prison in June for failing to prevent killings that claimed the lives of some 800 people that occurred during the uprising that led to his fall in February last year and after. |
| Critics, including demonstrators who have been protesting in Cairo this week, have been angry about the widespread impunity enjoyed by many officials and security force members who have largely avoided justice for the killings of demonstrators. | Critics, including demonstrators who have been protesting in Cairo this week, have been angry about the widespread impunity enjoyed by many officials and security force members who have largely avoided justice for the killings of demonstrators. |
| The removal of the Mubarak-era chief prosecutor and his replacement was designed to meet these demands. | The removal of the Mubarak-era chief prosecutor and his replacement was designed to meet these demands. |
| Heba Morayef, Egypt director for Human Rights Watch, said: "Egypt needed judicial reform and the public prosecutor is a Mubarak holdover, but granting the president absolute power and immunity is not the way to do it." | Heba Morayef, Egypt director for Human Rights Watch, said: "Egypt needed judicial reform and the public prosecutor is a Mubarak holdover, but granting the president absolute power and immunity is not the way to do it." |
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