In a major sign of compromise, Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammad Mursi
has revoked a controversial decree that had granted him sweeping
powers, but rejected opposition demands to delay a referendum on new
constitution.
The referendum on a draft constitution would go ahead as planned on
December 15. President Mursi’s dramatic U-turn came after a meeting he
held with other political leaders.
“The constitutional decree is annulled from this moment,” said Mohamed
Salim El Awa, a former presidential candidate, who yesterday read a
televised statement from a legal committee empaneled to review Mursi’s
action last month.
The present political turmoil began after President Mursi granted
himself absolute powers through the November 22 decree that had put his
decisions beyond judicial review, a move which gained him titles like
“dictator” and “Pharaoh“.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the country opposing the decree and the referendum.
Salim, however, said the referendum on a new constitution would go ahead
because it was not legally possible for the president to postpone it.
In his speech on Thursday, President Mursi was reluctant to give up the absolute powers he granted through the decree.
Earlier, military had warned of “disastrous consequences” if the
political crisis gripping the country was not resolved through dialogue.
“The Armed Forces watches with sorrow and concern the developments of
the current circumstances, and the status of the divisions and
unfortunate events threatening the pillars of the Egyptian state and the
national security,” a military statement said.
The statement urged all political forces to pursue dialogue. It also
said the loyalty of the armed forces is for the people. “The military
institution always sides with the great people of Egypt, and is keen on
their unity,” it said.
The military statement came as demonstrators fenced off an
administrative building in Tahrir Square angry over Mursi’s attempts to
push through a new constitution.
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