You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa North
Egypt's Morsi grants himself sweeping new powers
2012-11-22
Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi has granted himself sweeping new powers, one day after winning praise for his role in brokering the ceasefire in Gaza.

Mr Morsi has decreed that all decisions he has made since coming into office, and all decisions he will make until a new constitution is passed, will not be subject to appeal or review by any court.

He has also ordered that no court can dissolve the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly which is now drafting a new constitution.

And he gave the body - which was due to issue a draft constitution in December - two extra months to come up with a charter, that will then be put to a referendum.

Mr Morsi's declaration was aimed at "cleansing state institutions" and "destroying the infrastructure of the old regime," the president's spokesman said.

The moves are linked to events in June, when a court dissolved the lower house of parliament, which was dominated by Islamists.

Nobel laureate and former UN atomic energy agency chief Mohamed El Baradei lashed out at the declaration, which would effectively put the president above judicial oversight.

"Morsi today usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh. A major blow to the revolution that could have dire consequences," El Baradei wrote on his Twitter account.

Mr Morsi has also ordered the re-trial of leaders from former strongman Hosni Mubarak's regime.
Posted by:tipper

#1  Did Charleston Heston = "Moses" know???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2012-11-22 23:57  

00:00