Category Archives: Egypt

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has risked the wrath of the very people whose rise against his predecessor helped propel him to power by ordering the army to arrest civilians. Dr Morsi, who has relied heavily on ruling by decree since becoming leader, gave the army temporary power to arrest civilians during a constitutional referendum he is determined to push through despite the risk of bloodshed between his supporters and opponents accusing him of a power grab. The elite Republican Guard has yet to use force to keep protesters away from the palace, which it ringed with tanks, barbed wire and concrete barricades after last week’s violence. Morsi, bruised by calls … Continue reading →

The Egyptian city of Cairo seemed to be holding its breath Thursday after fierce violence overnight in which Egypt’s divided and angry revolutionaries came to physical blows, with each side hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails and wielding sticks and clubs at each other. Egypt’s Republican Guard deployed tanks around the presidential palace to prevent further bloodshed between Islamist supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and his secular, liberal and non-Islamist opponents. Thousands of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood backers pulled out of the area altogether, an attempt to quiet a deepening political crisis unleashed Nov. 22, when Morsi issued a decree giving himself near-absolute power in the name of speeding the country’s turbulent … Continue reading →

Egyptian police battled thousands of protesters outside President Mohamed Morsi’s palace in Cairo on Tuesday, prompting the Islamist leader to leave the building, presidency sources said. Officers fired teargas at up to 10,000 demonstrators angered by Morsi’s drive to hold a referendum on a new constitution on December 15. Some broke through police lines around his palace and protested next to the perimeter wall. The crowds had gathered nearby in what organizers had dubbed “last warning” protests against Morsi, who infuriated opponents with a November 22 decree that expanded his powers. “The people want the downfall of the regime,” the demonstrators chanted. “The president left the palace,” a presidential source, … Continue reading →

Tens of thousands Egyptians protested on Tuesday against President Mohamed Morsi in one of the biggest rallies since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow, accusing the Islamist leader of seeking to impose a new era of autocracy. Police fired tear gas at stone-throwing youths in streets near the main protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, heart of the uprising that toppled Mubarak last year. Clashes between Mursi’s opponents and supporters erupted in a city north of Cairo. But violence could not overshadow the show of strength by the normally divided opponents of Islamists in power, posing Morsi with the biggest challenge in his five months in office. “The people want to bring down the … Continue reading →

 President Mohammed Morsi is now Egypt’s ’new pharaoh’ says opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei. Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has issued a declaration banning challenges to his decrees, laws and decisions. The declaration also says no court can dissolve the constituent assembly which is drawing up a new constitution. President Morsi also sacked the chief prosecutor and ordered the re-trial of people accused of attacking protesters when ex-President Mubarak held office. Egyptian opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei accused Dr Morsi of acting like a “new pharaoh”. Mr ElBaradei said the new declaration effectively placed the president above the law. “Morsi today usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt’s new pharaoh. A major blow to … Continue reading →