Saturday, October 13, 2012

#Egypt's public prosecutor said on Saturday he will keep his job, in a blow to Mursi


Egypt prosecutor keeps job in blow to Mursi 
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2:19 PM - 13 Oct 12 · Details

Egypt prosecutor keeps job in blow to Mursi

Egypt's General Prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud (L) speaks to reporters in his office in the High Court in Cairo October 13, 2012. REUTERS-Amr Abdallah Dalsh
CAIRO | Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:08pm EDT
(Reuters) - Egypt's public prosecutor said on Saturday he will keep his job, in a blow to President Mohamed Mursi who just two days ago sought to replace the Hosni Mubarak-era official by appointing him as ambassador to the Vatican.
Mursi's effort to remove Abdel Maguid Mahmoud from his post was seen as a response to the acquittal of senior Mubarak-era officials who had been standing trial on charges of organizing violence during the uprising against the deposed leader.
But the move triggered an outcry from judges who said Mursi had exceeded his powers. Critics attacked the new president for a step they described as an attack on the independence of the judiciary.
Since he came to office as Egypt's first freely elected president, Mursi has removed other Mubarak-era officials including Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Mubarak's former defense minister, and other top generals.
In an elaborate resolution of the crisis, the Supreme Judicial Council presented Mursi with a petition on Saturday demanding Mahmoud stay in his job. The presidency in turn said Mursi would halt moves to make him an ambassador.
Posted by Robby Ball at 1:14 PM