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| Mohamed Morsi indicates judicial decree will be limited | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Egypt's president has agreed that only his decisions related to "sovereign matters" would be protected from judicial review, his spokesman has said, indicating he had accepted a judiciary-proposed compromise to try to defuse a crisis. | Egypt's president has agreed that only his decisions related to "sovereign matters" would be protected from judicial review, his spokesman has said, indicating he had accepted a judiciary-proposed compromise to try to defuse a crisis. |
| President Mohamed Morsi had angered opponents with a decree last Thursday that expanded his powers and put any decision he took beyond legal oversight until parliament was in place. Senior judges proposed he limit that to "sovereign matters". | President Mohamed Morsi had angered opponents with a decree last Thursday that expanded his powers and put any decision he took beyond legal oversight until parliament was in place. Senior judges proposed he limit that to "sovereign matters". |
| "The president said he had the utmost respect for the judicial authority and its members," Yasser Ali told reporters, adding that regarding the issue of immunity for presidential decisions: "what is intended is those that are linked to matters of sovereignty". | "The president said he had the utmost respect for the judicial authority and its members," Yasser Ali told reporters, adding that regarding the issue of immunity for presidential decisions: "what is intended is those that are linked to matters of sovereignty". |
| Ali added: "The article [in the decree] regarding retrials of past regime officials is dependent on the discovery of new evidence. | Ali added: "The article [in the decree] regarding retrials of past regime officials is dependent on the discovery of new evidence. |
| "Regarding the immunity of Morsi's decrees, that is a temporary measure until a constitution is in place and pertains only to what is known as 'sovereign matters' of elected bodies. Both the presidency and the judiciary are cautious for there not to be a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary." | "Regarding the immunity of Morsi's decrees, that is a temporary measure until a constitution is in place and pertains only to what is known as 'sovereign matters' of elected bodies. Both the presidency and the judiciary are cautious for there not to be a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary." |
| Ali said there has "been no amendments to the decree." | Ali said there has "been no amendments to the decree." |
| The term "sovereign matters" is ambiguous but tends to mean issues referring to the executive branch of the government, especially foreign policy and national security, but in this case would also include constitutional matters as Morsi holds legislative power in the absence of parliament. | The term "sovereign matters" is ambiguous but tends to mean issues referring to the executive branch of the government, especially foreign policy and national security, but in this case would also include constitutional matters as Morsi holds legislative power in the absence of parliament. |
| It would therefore extend to granting immunity from legal challenges to the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament, the shura council, which remains in session. | It would therefore extend to granting immunity from legal challenges to the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament, the shura council, which remains in session. |
| Meanwhile Barack Obama called for calm in Egypt and for the country to resolve differences over its constitutional impasse peacefully, a White House spokesman said. | Meanwhile Barack Obama called for calm in Egypt and for the country to resolve differences over its constitutional impasse peacefully, a White House spokesman said. |
| Morsi's decrees have forced the Obama administration to adopt two attitudes towards Morsi, who helped broker a ceasefire in the recent Gaza conflict that was backed by the United States. | Morsi's decrees have forced the Obama administration to adopt two attitudes towards Morsi, who helped broker a ceasefire in the recent Gaza conflict that was backed by the United States. |
| White House spokesman Jay Carney said that Morsi had played an "important role" in bringing "about a ceasefire, so that lives could be saved and the possibility of moving forward on negotiations for a more enduring peace could be realised. | White House spokesman Jay Carney said that Morsi had played an "important role" in bringing "about a ceasefire, so that lives could be saved and the possibility of moving forward on negotiations for a more enduring peace could be realised. |
| "Separately we've raised concerns about some of the decisions and declarations that were made on 22 November," he added. "And we continue to engage with the Egyptians on this. And I think the important issue here is the Egyptian people want a government that reflects their will." | "Separately we've raised concerns about some of the decisions and declarations that were made on 22 November," he added. "And we continue to engage with the Egyptians on this. And I think the important issue here is the Egyptian people want a government that reflects their will." |
| Egyptians remained braced for protests against Morsi due on Tuesday. Most schools will be closed and universities and many workplaces will wrap up early in anticipation of the marches, which are expected to draw tens of thousands to the streets. | |
| However the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups said they would postpone planned counter-demonstrations to "prevent bloodshed and divisions" in the country. | |
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