BBC News - Egypt President Mursi defends new powers amid protests http://bbc.in/UNU86P
10:03 PM - 23 Nov 12 · Details
Egypt President Mursi defends new powers amid protests
President Mohammed Mursi has appeared before supporters in Cairo to defend a new decree that grants him sweeping powers.
He told them he was leading Egypt on a path to "freedom and democracy" and was the guardian of stability.
He was speaking as thousands of opponents gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and offices of the president's party were attacked in several cities.
The decree says presidential decisions cannot be revoked by any authority.
'Mursi is Mubarak'
Speaking at a rally at the presidential palace in Cairo, Mr Mursi said he was working to secure a strong and stable nation, for which there was a "great future".
He said: "I am for all Egyptians. I will not be biased against any son of Egypt."
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Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor
Analysis
Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor
The Muslim Brotherhood, of which President Mursi is a leader, is a cautious organisation. The demonstrations might persuade it to dilute its controversial measures. If that doesn't happen, then the split in Egypt between political Islamists and the rest will grow deeper and more bitter.
President Mursi argues that he has taken exceptional powers to deal with Egypt's enormous problems. But the scenes on the streets of Cairo, and Egypt's other major cities, show that the medicine could be making the disease worse.
The country has had no political or economic stability since President Mubarak fell in February last year. Creating both should be at the top of the agenda for Mr Mursi. Egypt is close to getting a big loan from the International Monetary Fund - but the accusations that he is turning himself into a new Mubarak will worry Western donors.
Mr Mursi was praised as a pragmatist by the Americans after he negotiated the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But Egyptians who didn't vote for him - almost half the people who turned out in June's election - believe he has taken the new, sweeping powers to ram through an Islamist agenda.
Mr Mursi said he was the guardian of political, economic and social stability and wanted to see a "genuine opposition, a strong opposition".
"I am the guarantor of that and I will protect for my brothers in the opposition all their rights so they can exercise their role."
Mr Mursi also vowed to defend the independence of the executive, judiciary and legislature and not issue decrees to settle scores.
But across the capital in Tahrir Square, thousands of the president's opponents heeded calls to demonstrate against the decree.
Chants of "Mursi is Mubarak... revolution everywhere" rang out.
There were clashes between protesters and police in the square, with tear gas fired at demonstrators and Molotov cocktails thrown in return.
According to Egypt's state-run news agency, Mena, three people were injured in violence in Cairo's central Mohammed Mahmoud street.
Anti-Mursi protesters from more than 20 different groups have now begun a week-long sit-in at Tahrir Square, and have called for a huge protest on Tuesday.
Offices of the president's Muslim Brotherhood party have reportedly been attacked in the cities of Port Said and Ismailia.
Clashes between rival demonstrations took place in Alexandria.
Protesters in the Mediterranean city stormed the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, throwing out books and chairs, and starting a fire.
Up to 2,000 demonstrators stormed the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Suez, while hundreds of people also protested against the new decree in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Almost 100 people were injured across the country, the health ministry said.
