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Subscribe to RSSFresh from winning praise for brokering the Gaza cease-fire, Mohammed Morsi sets Egyptian politics ablaze by granting himself sweeping new powers. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
Updated at 5:05 p.m. ET: Opposition protesters clashed with police in several Egyptian cities Friday after new Islamist President Mohammed Morsi awarded himself sweeping new powers.
Police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the center of anti-regime protests that ousted longtime U.S.-backed leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
"The people want to bring down the regime," shouted protesters, echoing a chant used in the anti-Mubarak uprising. "Get out, Morsi," they chanted.
State TV also said Morsi opponents set fire to Muslim Brotherhood offices in the Suez Canal cities of Suez, Port Said and Ismailia.
Clashes also erupted between police and opposition protesters in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, the southern city of Assiut and in Giza, the sister city of the capital. In Alexandria, Morsi opponents hurled stones at Brotherhood supporters outside a mosque and stormed a nearby office of the group.
However, Muslim Brotherhood backers gathered in front of the presidential palace in northern Cairo to support Morsi -- illustrating a widening gulf over Egypt’s future.
Tarek Fawzy / AP
Protesters opposed to President Mohammed Morsi break into the offices of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, in Alexandria, Egypt, on Friday.
Wide powers
Buoyed by accolades from around the world for mediating a truce between Hamas and Israel, Morsi on Thursday ordered that an Islamist-dominated assembly writing the new constitution could not be dissolved by legal challenges.
Other changes give Morsi power to take security measures to protect his position, which rights groups say are like new emergency laws.
Protesters have burned a CSF (police truck) tear gas very heavy now, #Egypt #Tahrir
— Bel Trew - بÙ� ترÙ� (@Beltrew) November 23, 2012
Morsi belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood until he ran for the presidency and still depends on the group for political support.
On Friday, Morsi confirmed that he will move forward on his plans because he insisted they were for the good of the country.
Complete coverage of the Middle East & North Africa
"I am for all Egyptians. I will not be biased against any son of Egypt,'' Morsi told the crowd outside the presidential palace, adding that he was working for social and economic stability and the rotation of power.
"Opposition in Egypt does not worry me, but it has to be real and strong,'' he said in response to his critics.
Morsi also said Friday that his government would pay $5,000 to the families of those who died in the protests to oust Mubarak and $3,333 to those who were injured.
Tahrir square is flooding with protesters. Street battles on at least two streets. #egypt twitter.com/ibnezra/status…
— joseph dana (@ibnezra) November 23, 2012
'New pharaoh'
The changes, announced late Thursday, prompted outrage among secularists and liberals.
Critics accuse Egypt president of trying to become 'new pharaoh' with decree
Mohammed ElBaradei, a prominent pro-democracy figure and former head of the U.N.'s nuclear agency, accused Morsi of declaring himself a "new pharaoh."
Morsi today usurped all state powers & appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh. A major blow to the revolution that cld have dire consequences
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) November 22, 2012
"Morsi today usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh," ElBaradei said on Twitter. "A major blow to the revolution that could have dire consequences."
"Morsi a 'temporary' dictator','' was the headline in the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.
By ousting military chiefs, Egypt's Morsi shows he's a force to be reckoned with
The U.S. State Department signaled its concern Friday over Morsi’s declarations.
"One of the aspirations of the revolution was to ensure that power would not be overly concentrated in the hands of any one person or institution," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "The current constitutional vacuum in Egypt can only be resolved by the adoption of a constitution that includes checks and balances, and respects fundamental freedoms, individual rights, and the rule of law consistent with Egypt's international commitments."
Nuland called for calm and for all parties in Egypt to resolve differences through "democratic dialogue."
Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed serious concerns Friday about human rights and stability in Egypt.
Tarek Fawzy / AP
Protesters hurl stones during clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi in Alexandria, Egypt, on Friday.
"We are very concerned about the possible huge ramifications of this declaration on human rights and the rule of law in Egypt," Rupert Colville, U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay's spokesman, told a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva. "We also fear this could lead to a very volatile situation over the next few days, starting today in fact."
Morsi's decree is also bound to worry Western allies, particularly the United States, a generous benefactor to Egypt's army.
NBC News' Charlene Gubash, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
He declared himself above the law,he must think he's a American politician.
or perhaps the other way around, the Admistration may think they are Egyptian Politicians as Sharia Law was enforced the day AFTER the election by sentencing to jail an innocent video filim maker on the Internet in the USA who was wrongly accused by our President for soley political reasons of causing the deaths of a US Ambassaor and 3 other great Americans. Welcome to Sharia Law USA were you can now be jailed for a non-violent documentary on the Prophet Mohammed.
http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/case-against-innocence-of-muslims-filmmaker-raises-eyebrows/
they said he was imprisoned for false identifications...but I don't believe that is why he was imprisoned, just a good excuse to execute the will of the MBH
screw the politics we need to invade they still make twinkies
Once again the passionate, emotional, violent, freedom-hating Arabs have screwed themselves to the wall by voting in a radical Muslim president in Egypt. Regardless of what ANY politician promises, they will change their minds and try to become all-powerful as soon as they are in office. Arab unrest and the fact that most of them are uneducated and misinformed will eventually cause Egypt to fall to the average level of other Arab/Muslim countries around the world and become not much more than just another bunch of angry, misled, violent protesters. The cycle has been the same for eternity and will not change until the violent tendencies of these people change. Egypt got what it voted for -- the Muslim Brotherhood plan to subject all Arab nations to sharia law and poverty at the hand of a few rich oil sheikhs bent on the destruction of Christianity and Judaism.
What President Obama supported was the will of the Egyptian people. Morsi was elected by the majority of Egyptians. If they are upset with their choice then they will have to fight for another election. America has to stop putting "thugs" like Egypt's last president in power and then supporting them with money and arms. Reagan put Saddam Hussein in power in Iraq and then regreted his actions. We are not every country's father. Democracy is messy and many mistakes take place. Egypt has to have the time and place to find their own way. It is none of our business. Americans here who are crying about throwing the last Egyptian president under the bus would be the first to cry foul if another country tried to change our election process. What works in our country will not work in another. And I find that republicans who are trying to force their religious ideals down America's throat are the first to denounce the attempts of Islamists to force their beliefs on their own people. I do not see much difference between right wing Christian zealots and right wing islamic zealots. They both believe that only they are right and everyone should bow down to their beliefs.
Cindy Statement > "Reagan put Saddam Hussein in power in Iraq" < WOW, that is amazing that Reagan "put Saddam in power in Iraq" considering Saddam Formally rose to power in Iraq in 1979 while Carter was President in the USA and Reagan did NOT become President until January 1981. It appears the Cindy has the "power" to change what is the facts and then claim them on the NBC Comment Board.
Also Cindy Statement " do not see much difference between right wing Christian zealots and right wing islamic zealots". Uhm, never saw or read of any Christian in Iraq or Pakistan beheading people because happen to be a different religion. In fact, the Christians in Pakistan are about the most humble people you would ever met. While certain Muslims persucute them and burn their homes and sometime kill Christians. The Christian Pakistani reaction to soley to pray for those that persucute them... just the OPPOSITE thinking of the Muslim who would insist on "Jidad" and issue a "Fatwa" out of pure hateful revenge.
Cindy is obviously the product of today's public school system......historical facts are what she perceives or wants them to be. In addition to being completely ignorant on the rise to power of Saddam, she makes the claim that the U.S. put Mubarak in power. So I guess the U.S. is complicit with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad in planning and executing the assassination of Anwar Sadat, whom Mubarak succeeded. We did that because the U.S. did not want any Arab nations making peace with Israel....because we're war mongers. What an idiot.....
well stated, ceo-722851, we would be a much better nation if more people had your insight.
I can see the the world government in waiting has got Morsi saying the same slogan as OUR failed leader-"FORWARD". Foward to what? Economic collaspe so a one world government will be the solution. A paperless economy in which all currencies are abolished, no borders so we are all one nation. One religion too? The Progressives in this country are really REGRESSIVES taking us back to a false king. For all you sheeple FORWARD and ONWARD to the great abyss!!
"ARAB SPRING"..
For that Sprintime Fresh..Clean Smell...for All your Delicate Things..
One of OBAMA's ABYSMAL Failures...Obvious from the Start..
MORSI...HILLARY'S Darling Negotiator..
Declares Himself..SUPREME POTENTATE..of EGYPT..What Gall..What B.U.L.L.Shytte..
OBAMA Substitutes..One Dictator for a WORSE..Dictator..
Meanwhile ..YOUR Generous 2 Billion per Annum...Borowed Chinese Tax Dollars..
Support the Moose-Lamb -Bros ..in the Hood...
Your Dollars Supporting SHARIA LAW..for the Future Mandated Genocide..of YouR Children and Families...
Your Tax dollars Hard at work..
Iran.Egypt,Afghanistan.Iraq,
ABSURD,Dangerous KRAPP..
Obama supporting ISLAMIC TERRORISTS..
DESPOTISM
Fascism
Feudalism
Sexism
TERRORISM..
Shhhh..Please..as OBAMA and Hillary have said...Don't UPSET Them..
Your EXTORSION Money ..Leads to MORE EXTORSION
UND DER FURER MORSI.........SPRECHEN...
ACHTUNG....!!!
Das is MEIN EGYPT..
Das is MEIN Moose-Lamb_Bros-in -da Hood..
Das is Mein Sharia Law..
Und You VIL..Like IT...
Der Furer Sprechenl
Traded one dictator for another, things going to get uglier. American style democracy not a possibility for a long time to come if ever. The fact remains we have to deal with these people as do the Israelis. Best if America stays out of it, no repeat of the Shaw and Iran.
But all was supposed to be good with Mubarak out........You moronic liberal/progressives now see what we conservatives with brains tried to tell you all along with the Arab Spring movement. It was incited by the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda to open the doors. You all poo pooed it when we said it and now a day after filling yourself with turkey, you have to eat crow.
And vermontguy, you are one of the biggest so how would you like that. Broiled, fried, grilled, baked, or raw. It is my pleasure to prepare it any way you want.
Oh, and let's not forget Libya. They were right behind with the "changeover". So let's see who takes it there.
Freedom and Justice Party and the Muslim Brotherhood. An oxymoron if there ever was one.
Here we go again- The Egyptians hold and election and select Morsi to be the head man. Now they are learning that power corrupts and some of us want to blame OUR President for Morsi's actions? Everyone was excited to see Mubarak get tossed and now we have "buyer's remorse". You cna't have it both ways.
maybe we need to stop buying leaders at "walmart"...cheap toys
Supported by obama and trillions of American tax dollars, Egypt continues is transition into a radical islamic hell hole.
Is there anyone left in America, except obama, that supports the continued funding of the Egyptian government.
American taxpayers are not supporting the muslim brotherhood, but because of the President, they have no choice but fund them, take care of them and bow down to them!
GOSH..???
What a Shock...
MORSI..DEclares Himself,... and Muzz-in-da-Hood
SUPREME...Glorious ..Ultimate Authority of Egypt..
Who would have guessed ..? SHARIA LAW..would Come SO FAST and Furious..To Egypt..?
Right Gomer...?
They need to confiscate all the rocks in egypt.Or im going to open a glass repair shop there!
Muslim's are not a people that can survive without a strong dictatorial leader. They had Murbarak, now they have Morsi. Most of the Middle East is controlled by a dictator. When the Sunni or the Shia attempt to take control it degenerates into a mob mentality heading toward Sharia Law and Mullah chaos.
Indonesia, Tunisia, and Turkey would disagree, I think.
Never mind that there are millions of Muslims living in western democracies that somehow "survive without a strong dictatorial leader". There is nothing about dictatorship or Muslims that make them unusually appropriate for each other.
a muslim, is only created by the generation he/she was born from....it only take one generation to change that
what can we do today....?
And the cry of the people where heard throughout the land " LET MY PEOPLE GO " What is up with these Leaders of the World who still think they can dictate one's own beliefs and do nothing to speak of the will of it's people. Turmoil, disgust and mistrust reigns supreme in these countries where the few outweigh the demands of the most. You woo your people in making them believe you have there well being in mind only to dash the hopes of the many with echos of Hitlers Regime or any other world leader who looks like a saint but is merely a snake in hiding. ( New pharaoh'
The changes, announced late Thursday, prompted outrage among secularists and liberals. ) Don't these leader even care to know that the next generation is waiting on the world to change and they are not waiting for the promise of one year, ten years or more, they want changes NOW.
Morsi had better tread carefully. This isn't his grandma's Egypt.
Only people in the world that didn't see this coming were the Morsi supporters, I believe that is called betrayal.
And Obama and his supporters here in the States.
If conservatives could rightly identify the real threats to this country and get with the program some real and meaningful change might be accomplished but it will necessary for them to think outside the traditional envelope.
The libs are upset that they screwed up and got another dictator? Huh? Isn't every person who occupies and seat of leadership in any arab/muslim/islamist country going to be a dictator? Mubarak being replaced was merely moving re arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic..Yawn... Stupid libs thought Mubarak was a brutal oppressor and US puppet... True, he was... And Morsi will be our next brutal oppressor and puppet.. OR, even worse he could become China or Russias next brutal oppressor and puppet... I hope Barak Hussein Obama has us in line first but I doubt it.
Great Job Barry and Hillary! Your Arab spring is just creating more militant radical governments that we will have to fight some day. You are spreaking the cancer of Islam rather than curing it.
This country is soon to become an oil exporting country so what does that leave as our vital interest in the area? If we develop a balanced approach to solving the problem we have a chance to generate some goodwill and maybe have a few less enemies that are willingly to do another trade center type attack.
Wait till the brotherhood extremists starts knocking down the pyramids and the Sphinx's as they said they would do.
that would be so horrible...but they do it all the time when this stuff happens...sad
Things are back to normal in Egypt again. How much aid will we send to them this time? Couple hundred million or half a billion? It's your money folks, enjoy. When will we ever learn its USA first and people that hate us no matter if we give them aid or not....LAST! Does anyone have any common sense at all???
It's George Bush'd fault
You are so right Daddy Bush and Baby Bush's wars in the area totally destroyed any goodwill this country has in the area created enough new enemies for this country to last for another 500 years and was responsible for more innocent people being killed than any Arab leader in the area.
They need a strong military leader to lead their country.
It's mainly a muslim nation, with muslim leaders, I think what you meant to say was they need a strong military to oppress and subjegate the civilian populace.