Tensions mount in Egypt as Mursi Appoints himself as Supreme Dictator

Thousands march to Tahrir as pressure piles on Morsi
27 November, 2012 – Agence France Presse – The Daily Star

CAIRO: Egypt’s President Mohammad Mursi faced nationwide protests Tuesday after digging in his heels over a controversial decree granting him sweeping powers, in the most divisive crisis since he took power in June.

Thousands of lawyers left their syndicate chanting, “The people want the downfall of the regime,” — the signature chant of the protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak last year– as they made their way to Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.

Several other marches were preparing to set off from around the capital to join thousands of protesters already in the square to denounce Mursi’s decree.

In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, several hundred gathered in Qaitbay square, with two large marches expected to join them later.

“Down with the rule of the Supreme Guide,” they chanted, in reference to the head of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, on whose ticket Mursi ran for office.

A rival rally in Cairo by the Muslim Brotherhood in support of the president was called off to “avoid potential unrest” but that has done little to abate the division among supporters and foes of Mursi.

“The Muslim Brotherhood stole the revolution” read one banner in Tahrir. Another said the president was “pushing the people to civil disobedience.”

“The Muslim Brotherhood are liars, read another.

Sporadic clashes between police and protesting youths continued into the afternoon near Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

“We will stay in Tahrir until Mursi cancels his declaration,” protester Ahmed Fahmy, 34 told AFP.

The planned demonstrations come a day after Mursi met with the country’s top judges in a bid to defuse the crisis over the decree, that has sparked deadly clashes and prompted judges and journalists to call for strike.

The protesters are angry at the decree that Mursi announced last Thursday allowing him to “issue any decision or law that is final and not subject to appeal”, which effectively placed him beyond judicial oversight.

The decree put him on a collision course with the judiciary and consolidated the long-divided opposition which accuses him of taking on dictatorial powers and raise fears that the Islamists will be further ensconced in power.
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