RT @bigbrothercouk Egypt: Islamists Rally For Mohamed Morsi - Sky News http://bit.ly/UTh8HN #bigbrother #news http://bit.ly/YiUURk
11:44 AM - 1 Dec 12 · Details
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Egypt:
Islamists Rally For Mohamed Morsi
Thousands of Egyptians pack the streets of Cairo to throw their support behind the President's decree and new charter.
Video: Morsi Making 'Political Gamble'
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Islamist backers of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi are staging a mass rally in Cairo in support of his expanding powers and the drafting of a new constitution.
"The Muslim Brotherhood supports President Morsi's decisions," read a banner carried by supporters who chanted: "The people want the implementation of God's law."
Mr Morsi plunged Egypt into a new crisis last week when he issued a decree placing his decisions beyond judicial challenge and gave himself sweeping powers.
Its new Muslim Brotherhood President said it was a temporary measure to speed-up Egypt's democratic transition until the revised charter was in place.
Saturday's demonstration in the heart of the capital comes a day after tens of thousands converged on Tahrir Square to protest against Mr Morsi's decree and the speedy adoption of the draft constitution which they see as a dictatorial power grab.
Mohamed Noshi, 23, a pharmacist from Mansoura, north of Cairo, said: "Those in Tahrir don't represent everyone. Most people support Morsi and aren't against the decree."
"There are people who want instability," said another demonstrator, referring to anti-Morsi protesters.
"There needs to be a constitution for there to be stability."
Members of the constituent assembly are due to later hand the President the final draft of the constitution, which was adopted after a marathon overnight session on Thursday that was boycotted by liberals, seculars and Christians.
They are opposed to the haste in which the charter has been adopted and some of its provisions on rights and freedoms.
Heba Morayef, Human Rights Watch Egypt directors, said some of the draft articles on freedom of expression and religion resemble a "penal code".
"Some of the provisions are penal code provisions. You don't list all the things that you are not allowed to do, you're supposed to set up the rights and limitations," she said.
Pro-Morsi protests are also taking place in Nahdet Misr Square in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Alexandria and the central Egyptian province of Assiut.
The Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters have branded the opposition as enemies of the revolution that toppled longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
