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Ahmad Hammad / AP
A demonstrator chants slogans as several thousand supporters of President Mohammed Morsi surround the Supreme Constitutional Court on Sunday.
News analysis
CAIRO - There’s usually a lot of movement around Cairo’s highest court, and Monday was no exception. But acutely missing were the judges and lawyers themselves -- they’re on strike, protesting against the hundreds of Islamist demonstrators occupying the court’s grounds since Saturday night.
The judges -- seen by Islamists as holdovers from the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak -- have said they feel too intimidated to come and do their work, which would have included ruling on the legality of a 234-article draft constitution the opposition maintains is flawed, incomplete and above all else, leans too far toward Islamic law.
The scene was festive when NBC News visited the court. Small bands of men, many of them bearded, said they had come to support President Mohammed Morsi. They carried banners or posters and danced to pro-Morsi chants belted out through loudspeakers. Some sat reading newspapers or the Quran, or slept on the shaded grass around the imposing stone building. Fresh replacements were bused in every morning, participants told NBC News.
Crisis tests Egyptians' constitution
The phalanx of riot police -- around 100 in all -- formed a cordon around the protesters, not the courthouse. Instead of protecting judges and allowing them to get into the courthouse, they appeared to be protecting the protesters.
Protester Waheed Amr laughed as he held up his ID card showing he was a member of the judiciary police.
Mona El-Tahawy explains why President Mohammed Morsi's recent decree is very insulting to many Egyptians who demonstrated against Former President Hosni Mubarak's regime.
"The police are here to protect the judges, not us. We can protect ourselves," he said.
Amr just laughed again when a reporter pointed out that there were no judges to protect.
"We support the revolutionary decisions of our president," he said. "He's cleaning up the country, and we are here to deliver a message of support."
In revolution, he seemed to say, physicality can trump the rule of law, because it becomes the law.
The pro-Morsi sit-in at the high court is a counter-point to the 11-day camp-out in Tahrir Square, the symbolic heart of the broad-based revolution that overthrew Mubarak in 2011. Over there, several hundred die-hard opponents chant against Morsi’s controversial decrees and his support for what many see as an openly pro-Islamist constitution.
NBC News
"We support the revolutionary decisions of our president," protester Waheed Amr said outside of Egypt's highest court. "He's cleaning up the country, and we are here to deliver a message of support."
And the high court sit-in only complicates efforts as the hodgepodge of liberal, secular, moderate and Christian minorities ponders what to do next.
In 12 days it looks likely that a national referendum on the draft constitution will take place. On Monday, Morsi’s top legal adviser said that preparations were already under way. And, after hundreds of judges from a union called the Judges Club announced that its members would not oversee the running of the polling stations, the powerful Supreme Judicial Council -- a body comprising thousands of judges -- agreed to oversee the Dec. 15 referendum.
So far, Morsi's opposition looks out-maneuvered.
Liberals, Christians left out as Islamists back Egypt's draft constitution
Meanwhile, the opposition’s options are between two rocks and a hard place: it either boycotts the constitutional referendum, effectively ending its campaign for power and influence; or it fights hard to win a "no" vote and loses, which weakens it but strengthens Morsi by legitimizing the current draft; or it surprises everyone and wins a "no" vote, which would only move the whole process back to square one and give the president another five or six months of special powers to hand-pick yet another group to write a draft constitution.
As protesters clashes, President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt announced a referendum on a proposed constitution. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
The anti-Morsi judges also have their backs to the wall. Even if they find the nerve to meet at the high court or somewhere else and dissolve the body that wrote the draft constitution -- they could chose to do so because it was created under questionable laws -- their ruling would have no legal effect, as Morsi’s recent decrees give him and the writing body immunity from judicial review.
So until there’s a new constitution, Morsi holds all cards -- executive, legislative, and now, judicial.
But, if that’s the case, why are pro-Morsi protesters preventing Egyptian judges from doing their job in their own courtroom? "Look," said Amr, "the gates of the court are open! We’re not cutting off the courthouse. We’re here to tell the court to stay out of politics!"
In doing so with brute force and intimidation, have Morsi and his supporters reached what some Middle East analysts are calling a tipping point in the two-year old revolution? One that now looks increasingly like it's sliding toward an Islamic state?
Jim Maceda is an NBC News foreign correspondent based in London who is currently on assignment in Cairo. He has covered the Middle East since the 1970s.
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Leave a Comment:
Shocking that the muslim brotherhood would turn Egypt into an Islamic state isn't it?
They seems like such nice people..lol.
"We’re here to tell the court to stay out of politics!"
I guess they don't realize there's a third branch called judicial, and they were just stripped of their power by Morsi. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse for Egypt. I've got nothing against Islam, but I don't think any religion should dictate the law of the land. That's just trading one oppression for another.
There is no doubt that the referendum on the draft constitution will pass. Between intimidating people and stuffing ballot boxes, the Muslim Brotherhood will make sure it passes, the same way they made sure that Morsi won the election. The Muslim Brotherhood is in control of Egypt now and they will do everything they can to make sure that they keep that power. The new constitution is designed to make sure that the Islamists maintain their power by placing all laws under the review of the clerics. They have assured that no non-Muslim could ever even run for president, let alone be elected. This is definitely the beginning of a new dark ages for Egypt. So long as the Islamists are in control their society will stagnate and move backwards. Also, the violence and intolerance that accompanies Islamist rule is certain to put a serious crimp in one of Egypt's main sources of revenue - tourism. What western tourist in their right mind is going to want to go to Egypt on vacation while the Islamists are in control of the country.
I totally agree with you Alex. The reason that Morsi is seizing control of the judicial system is to create an Islamic state of Egypt. They are indeed using religion to dictate the law of the land......like we all said they would back in the day when our very own Wackjoma was supporting the rebellion.
Somehow, a conservative "We told ya so" just doesn't cut it...lol!
The ethos in Middleeast governance -fight for Democracy until it gets your party in power then cease power and kill the opposition. These are the same old snakes who found a different way into the bird nest!
Well said JS in SD. This is going to be a dangerous and unfortunate time for the Egyptian people.
How can one religion which is intolerant to all others, rule a country of many?
JS - you hit the nail on the head. It is just that grim. The people, desperate for economic improvement, will agree to being controlled again by another dictator. What is sort of funny is that it is the liberals and Christens/conservatives, that have been kicked to the curb. The radicals took over.
Do you think this is the outcome Obama expected when he threw Mubarak under the bus?
Julea,
By seizing the judicial branch, forcing religious laws on people who don't practice the religion the laws protect, and kill the opposition.
Ya what a shocker a moderate muslim turns out to be a radical after all.
Theyre getting what they voted for.
There is a death-grip already between Islam and the west, and neither side can afford to loosen the grip. Sooner or later it will come to a bloody end.
In England (or was it France?) the Muslims were told they could not block the traffic in the streets by stopping to kneel and pray.
The Muslims responded by hiring bodyguards to intimidate the police, formed large mobs to block main areas of the city, and arrogantly knelt to pray. The police were told NOT to try and arrest them.
physicality can trump the rule of law, because it becomes the law.
A real Islamic state will protects rights of all minorities unlike Israel which is essentially an apartheid Jewish state collectively punishing the Palestinian Muslims and Christians.
More fresh meat for the critics of Islam. They seem so un-aware of the transparent belligerent and predictable nature of their behavior.
I wonder how much the "Muslim Brotherhood" pays these thugs to shout slogans and carry signs...... I'll bet right now the vast majority of Egyptians are saying "Boy did we screw up".
Egyptians electing the Muslim Brotherhood to run their government is like Americans electing Republicans to run ours......... both organizations are religion based and both are controlled by extremists.
The individuals that instigated, inspired and managed the revolution via their technological prowess, "that was hijacked by The Muslim Brotherhood", need to organize something impressive prior to Dec. 15th. I wish them luck. And I wish I knew how to support them.
For the time being only the military under a secular government can protect Egypt.The Brotherhood should go back where thy came from..i.e to prison.The same goes for Turkey where their leader supports islamic terrorism A curse on both their houses.They are both screaming type of islamist hyenas!
Brillant plan (arab spring) O' man your the greatest leader we ever had. You got to wonder which side this guy is working for. He never really grew up American... you really have to wonder where this guy comes from his influences etc. What a huge mistake this country made electing him again. Whats more scary is the ignorant rable that voted for him.
Arab Spring is turning into a human rights winter.
"Some sat reading newspapers or the Quran, or slept on the shaded grass around the imposing stone building."
Sunni Muslim Blood hounds will not be much different from what they have been doing in other places.
They have turned Arab Spring into Arab tearing and killing in Egypt.
It is a bad period for sane Muslims, females, Christians, Israel and others.
After tearing Egypt to peices, these Muslim Blood hounds will turn to other places.
azhaq writes:
A real Islamic state will require that Non-muslims pay a special tax called the Jizya which does offer a degree of "protection," albeit mafia style. After all, if the Non-muslims refuse to pay such tax (a tax that is laid out in detail under Sharia Law) they can expect dire consequences. Minorities exist a state of "subjugation" under Sharia that is specified in the Qur'an and requires willing submission (or else!) to the masters of Islam.
Just like here if people want to be sheep they will be sheep!
that was lame.....honestly confussed...really lame.
what's lame? Obama got elected by an electorate that is overwhelmingly ignorant of the issues and would rather be keeping up with who Gomez and Bieber are dating than what's happening in the country. He was elected by a small majority of the eligible voters....a little over half of the entire population. What a mandate!
I was just commenting on the "Just like here if people want to be sheep they will be sheep!"
Just thought something alittle more witty was in order...Don't misunderstand, I'm on your side of this issue bagdadjoe.
Here in the US you can still ferret out the truth, but it is darn hard and often even then the truth never gets heard. The media spin with their own agenda which is anti-capitalism is excellent at parsing words, and using selective facts to make their case. Every case can be made if you look hard enough for support.
The liberals and Christians in Egypt are sad today. I know just how they feel about the political winds.
The thing about this for me is what will happen to Israel? If Egypt controls the trade into Gaza and Morsi is supposed to use his influence with Hamas, What will happen? This is a very serious consequence and I think USA sould support Morsi's impeachment. Make a new election with actual choices..not like last time of only Mubarak or Morsi. What kind of a choice is that? The Military or Islam...both repressive. It's nice to see Egypt not react like Americans but Demonstrate for Change to be fair to everyone.
Julea - The USA engineered the overthrow of Mubarak with the war cry,"the people just want democracy" & "Mubarak must step down, he is repressing the demonstrators that want democracy." The USA screwed up again, as usual.
These seventh century Sunni Islamic religious Nazis, Muslim Blood hounds know only hating and killing. They are not sheep, but seventh century desert Islamic beasts.
Look at how they are killing their own Muslims in Syria, Bahrain, Pakistan and other places.
And Mr. Obama got all buddy buddy with this clown. The entire Middle-East is a waste.
There's a difference between siding Morsi and siding against the dictator that was being overthrown. I'm guessing you don't understand that.
Alex- They are no better off with this guy. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. At least Mubarak had the balls to stand up against the rest of the Muslim world and work a peace deal with Israel.
Obama got buddy buddy in a political sense, did you forget McCain was calling to arm the rebels and send in troops when Mubarak was in power? Morsi and the Brotherhood tricked politicians regardless of party.
Alex, you have got to be joking. Mubarak will look like a saint one day. He at least knew who within is country could destroy any advancement in his region and tried to suppress them over decades.
Obama never got 'buddy buddy' with this guy. He specifically said that it was unclear if Egypt would be an ally or not. It depends on what they do. That is what he said.
I also want to add, imagine what would have happened if the United States tried to intervene and stop Morsi from becoming the President when at the time he was loved by the entire nation of Egypt? How do you think the U.S.A. would react if Egypt tried to decide who our next President is? Things would have gotten real ugly, you would have the largest military in the Middle East rallying behind a leader against the United States.
Obama, Hillary, Jewish lobby, Christian right and many in the West are not understanding the dangerous implications of the Sunni Saudi and other Arab League rulers proxies breeding and exporting of most dangerous Sunni Islamic religious Nazis.
They have labels like al Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, Muslim Brotherhood, Taliban and so on.
They are on rampage in ME and many other Muslim and non-Muslim nations.
Why can't these brave handle Assad in Syria and Shiites of Iran?
Why do they enact different dances on Syria and Iran?
They did similar dances, dramas, requests, pleas, chest beatings and some seventh century acts against Saddam in Iraq.
Hillary and Obama be praised. They really pushed for a new Egypt. Well........we got one.
Nice stupid comment. You seem to forget that the people of Egypt got sick and tired of being lead by multi million dollar or billionaire leaders - isn't it strange how every leader of some third world country comes from the military and then becomes super wealthy?..... the GOP armed this guy to the teeth and the Egyptian people got sick and tired of it... and the third world is pretty much getting sick and tired of the USA.....
Kevin is right, the people of Egypt asked for and got this guy. They will likely write a new chapter of history in blood because of it. But it is their blood, so let it ride. They way Ireland and Rwanda went, Egypt is good for a similar tale of woe. Hope not, but these religious things get pretty bloody. How many IRA idiots got happy patriotic feelings blowing up kids and women. Egypt and maybe Lebanon will be the same.
No Kevin, isn't it amazing that almost every elected US politician leaves their post as super wealthy millionaires? We are being led by the super wealthy too. I have nothing against the super wealthy, I wish I was among them, but I don't think they should acquire their wealth from the taxpayers.
Bagdadjoe, just so you know both parties were involved in creating the new Egypt. Did you forget about McCain wanting to arm the rebels and send in our troops to support them?
McCain wants to arm everybody and send in American troops everywhere. We should just ignore the senile old war monger.
It is the most dangerous Egypt one could ask for!
Thanks to "strategic allies" like Sunni Saudis, Qataris, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League rulers!
One does not even understand regular backstabbings in the name of Islam after their jobs are done.
Just like Hamas, once the Brotherhood wins (seizes) an election it will be the last democratic election until the next revolution. Fundamentalist Islam is not compatible with democracy.
Fundamentalist Islam is not compatible with anything civilized.
Fundamentalist Islam should not have a place in 21st century for long!
Of course, Islamic style of killings in the battles between Sunnis and Shiites, Sufis and others minority Muslims can be tolerated.
They are periods during which we have to take breaks.
We need to keep away from their battles in Syria, Iran and other places.
Iraqi wars were blunders.
Saddam would have wiped some of the most dangerous and ungrateful and backstabbing nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and some more from the ME map!
After their battles, let us get the remaining ones.
Hey. The Islamic Brotherhood. As if we didn't see this coming. Egypt, prepare to be the next Belfast or Rwanda. You voted it in, you got it. Way to think it through. Good luck.
A more important thing is that Egypt controls what goes into Israel. There seems to be a plan to take Egypt then Jordan and Syria and with Lebanon of course take Israel under Islamic rule.. This isn't just about Egypt. Morsi has to go! No one needs another Iran..even if it is Sunni run. And Palestine made Islamic will be intolerable. Too Late for Two State.
There should be a new election with a Choice. Mubarak(Military) vs Morsi (Islam) was not a choice. Mubarak did have to go and so does Morsi but it won't be easy.
"We're here to tell the judges to keep the court out of politics". Perhaps this fine example of an Islamist is forgetting about the 3 branches of government system that Egypt agreed to. Let's see, we have the Legislative, the Executive, and the Executive. 3 branches! Yay Democracy! C'mon Ahmed, Let's go celebrate by stoning someone!
Egypt is heading straight to hades and Obama helped push it there. Mideast politics just got a whole lot more bloody.
PMF: Raining today. Must be Obama's fault!!
Pullmyfinger13, tell me what you would have done? Did intervening and stopping Morsi from becoming President sound like a good idea to you? These people just overthrew their own dictator, how would they react to a foreign country deciding their next leader? How do you think American citizens would react if Egypt decided who becomes our next President? It would have resulted in the country backing Morsi even more and he probably would have done an even bigger power grab running on the idea of getting America out of Egypt and maybe even war against America.
A very complicated situation. The judges are an anti-democratic holdover from Murbarak's dictatorship. The secular democratic opponents of Islamic rule are wrong to make allies out of anti-democratic elements of the old regime. They discredit themselves as democrats by making common cause with the opponents of democracy.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Thats an old outdated saying, misscreant. Maybe you were making a joke. The enemy is friend until you turn your back. I guess everyone knows that now, its just hard sometimes to hear sarcasm when written.
Social Critic was commenting on how the judges are holdovers from Murbarak's regime, and that the democratic desiring protesters were "wrong" to ally themselves with them. My response was partially sarcastic, but no matter what their political ideology is, the judges do not want that constitution pushed through and their power revoked anymore than the protesters do.
Trade one man rule for another one man rule but Islamist in persuasion? How are these people gaining anything? Certainly not democracy. And certainly further alienation from the West.
Sad to see a once noble and proud country degenerate into an Islamic Sharia law state. Egypt as we all have known it is no more. They will probably raid the institute of antiquities and destroy the pyramids. Anything not conforming to their twisted view of history and Islam will be gone. As a country and as a people they are finished.
More mindless BS politics from a country that still has a female genital mutilation tradition that is close to 90 percent. I have read estimates from 89 to 91 percent. What can you expect from people who engage in such barbaric behavior.
Hope Morsi thanks God for Obama's support every times he says his prayers.
Obama supported an election, not this outcome.
Obama is either naive or knew what the end result would be. One thing for sure he is a gambler.
Only 19 more days.
Its their country, they elected their president fairly and democratically through elections.and now the new constitution draft is going back TO THE PEOPLE TO BE APPROVED OR REJECTED. ITS UP TO THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT. We dont even have that here in the US. most bills and laWs are crafted, drafted and approved by congress WITHOUT REFRENDUM. The people have no say on it.
Go true democarcy,Go Egypt, Go president Morsi.
The constitution is NOT going to the people. Morsi has pretty much made himself a dictator, giving himself the power to make laws and revoking the power of the judiciary to review his decisions. He is trying to force though a constitution that a large portion of Egyptains do not want. Egypt is about to become a nation under Sharia law controlled by an extremist religious group.
There is no true democracy in Egypt tonight.
P.S. The U.S. is not a democracy. We are a constitutional republic.
We are no longer governed by the original Constitution. It has been so subverted that we are now a Corporatocracy.
And the Obama supporters are just about there now.
Muslims just seem to be somehow involved with all the world conflicts
Yes their misery they just love to share.
Three years before 9/11 I was telling my friends to pay attention. Every single armed conflict around the planet was muslim against somebody else. Couldn't find one that wasn't, other than lingering embers from the Irish/English mess and maybe a few African tribal conflicts, but even the African problems usually had muslims involved.
This new constitution is the real war against women.
Surpise, surprise, surprise!!!
Well, Gooooolllly.
Those fellows don't seem very friendly Andy.
The mess in Iran is due to Jimmy Carter (AKA the despiser of Israel and lover of American weakness) and now his political grandson: Barack Obama - can take credit for the new Iran (AKA the old Egypt)!
Let Egypt determine its own fate, just without any US aid. Use those billions of dollars of aid money for domestic programs or reduce the deficit!
Its their country, they elected their president fairly and democratically through elections.and now the new constitution draft is going back TO THE PEOPLE TO BE APPROVED OR REJECTED. ITS UP TO THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT. We dont even have that here in the US. most bills and laWs are crafted, drafted and approved by congress WITHOUT REFRENDUM. The people have no say on it.
Go true democarcy,Go Egypt, Go president Morsi.
"true democarcy" (sic.) does that differ from "true democracy"? In a democarcy, I guess it's ok for the president to seize power and grant himself unlimited and unchallengeable powers? Something that could never happen in a true democracy.
ok so: your politics are worse than your English! Perhaps you should migrate to Egypt and join the "revolution".
The latest report out of Pakistan is that the Taliban has begun loading trucks to ship terrorists to Egypt to help with the transition to a shariah law dictatorship. The Taliban also reports they are arranging for heavy equipment to be shipped over to help tear down the pyramids and the sphinx. Egypt has said they plan to replace the smuggling tunnels into Gaza with a six lane highway with a toll gate. Tolls are expected to not only pay for the highway in the first month, but will also support the Egyptian government's efforts to cleanse Egypt of Christians and Jews.
its not your country, its not your business. The people of Egypt voted for the one who would represent them best without the meddling of israel and the US. They sent a message loud and clear to the likes of you.
Pyramids are 8,000 years old. And they may fall under Obama's watch.
Let's just keep sending them money. We don't need it. I've got piles laying around the house and nothing to spend it on. And all my family and friends have tons and tons of money.
I want to send it all to the muslim brotherhood.
They seem nice.
Misscreant
You are plain wrong. educate yourself on the subject. Egypt has the true democarcy for the people are the ones who would decide if the constitution is adopted or rejected after the assembly vote.
Egypt's Morsi: Dec. 15 referendum on constitution
Associated Press – Sat, Dec 1, 2012
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has called for a Dec. 15 referendum on a disputed draft constitution.
Morsi spoke Saturday in a nationally televised speech to the Islamist-led panel that hurriedly approved the draft charter amid widening opposition from secular and Christian groups.
Morsi urged Egyptians to participate in the referendum and praised the role of the judiciary in observing past elections. He says the referendum will be a brick in Egypt's democratic experience.
Yahoo.com
(Reuters) - Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi called a December 15 referendum on a new constitution, hoping to end protests over a decree expanding his powers, as at least 200,000 of his Islamist supporters rallied in Cairo on Saturday.
Approval of the constitution drafted by an assembly stacked with Mursi's Islamist allies will override the November 22 decree that temporarily shielded Mursi from judicial oversight and triggered statements of concern from Western governments.
The decree plunged Egypt into its worst crisis since Mursi won office in a June election and sparked countrywide protests and violence in which two people have been killed and hundreds injured. This hit an economy just showing signs of recovery.
"I renew my call for opening a serious national dialogue over the concerns of the nation, with all honesty and impartiality," said Mursi after receiving the final draft from the constituent assembly. "We must move beyond the period of confrontation and differences, and get on to productive work."
The constitution is meant to be the cornerstone of democracy after three decades of army-backed autocracy under President Hosni Mubarak. Yet drafting it has been divisive, exposing splits between newly empowered Islamists and their opponents.
Protesters in an open-ended sit-in in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which was also the focus of demonstrations against Mubarak, accuse Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood of trying to impose a flawed constitution.
Leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei said on Twitter that "struggle will continue" despite the referendum and that the draft constitution "undermines basic freedoms."
Liberal figures including former Arab League chief Amr Moussa pulled out of the constituent assembly last month, as did representatives of Egypt's Christian minority.
The draft constitution contains Islamist-flavored language which opponents say could be used to whittle away human rights and stifle criticism. It forbids blasphemy and "insults to any person", does not explicitly uphold women's rights and demands respect for "religion, traditions and family values".
The text also limits presidents to two four-year terms, requires parliamentary approval for their choice of prime minister, and introduces some civilian oversight of the military - although not enough for critics.
Mursi described it as a constitution that fulfilled the goals of the January 25, 2011 revolution that brought an end to Mubarak's rule. "Let everyone - those who agree and those who disagree - go to the referendum to have their say," he said.
JUDGES TO SUPERVISE VOTE
To hold the referendum, Mursi will depend on a judiciary which has been on partial strike over the November 22 decree, and which he and the Brotherhood suspect of links to the Mubarak regime. Judges oversee elections in Egypt.
Vice President Mahmoud Mekky said he trusted the judiciary would supervise the vote, state news agency MENA reported.
Mursi is betting the Islamists' core supporters and ordinary Egyptians fed up with instability will pass the constitution.
While Mursi only secured the presidency by a slim margin, the Islamists have won all elections since Mubarak was toppled.
The opposition must decide whether to urge a boycott or a "No" vote in the referendum. If they secure a "No", the president could retain the powers he has unilaterally assumed.
The referendum call met with cheers from the pro-Mursi rally at Cairo University. Streets were clogged with those sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood and more hardline Salafi parties.
The rally was a show of strength by Islamists who feel under attack from leftist, liberal and socialist parties. By early evening, the crowd peaked at at least 200,000, said Reuters witnesses, basing estimates on previous Cairo rallies. Authorities declined to give an estimate for the crowd's size.
"The people want the implementation of God's law," chanted flag-waving demonstrators, many bussed in from the countryside.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians protested against Mursi on Friday, chanting: "The people want to bring down the regime," echoing a trademark slogan of the revolts against Arab leaders.
Rival demonstrators threw stones after dark in the northern city of Alexandria and a town in the Nile Delta. Similar clashes erupted again briefly in Alexandria on Saturday, state TV said.
Mohamed Noshi, 23, a pharmacist from Mansoura, said he had joined the rally in Cairo to support Mursi and his decree. "Those in Tahrir don't represent everyone. Most people support Mursi and aren't against the decree," he said.
Egypt cannot hold a new parliamentary election until a new constitution is passed. The country has been without an elected legislature since the Supreme Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated lower house in June.
The court is due to meet on Sunday to discuss the legality of parliament's upper house.
"We want stability. Every time, the constitutional court tears down institutions we elect," said Yasser Taha, a 30-year-old demonstrator at the Islamist rally in Cairo.
(Additional reporting by Marwa Awad, Yasmine Saleh and Tamim Elyan; Writing by Alistair Lyon and Tom Perry; Editing by Myra MacDonald and Jason Webb)
Pakistan
Iran
Assholistan
Iraq
Egypt
Pakistan
Syria
Libya
Somalia
Southern Sudan
Nigeria
Yemen
Tunisia
Chad
Niger
Boy what a crazy bunch of ASSH0LES
I wonder if there is a common denominator.
What could these scum have in common. They all are absolutely nuts.
If only we could figure out what makes them act like this.
I hope it's not Israel frightening them.
US invasions, foreign occupation and CIA meddling into their internal affairs, western powers supporting their brutal dictators.. just to name few.
ok so====How about a fool and a speech in Egypt 4 years or ago? How about an American President that has been actively moving out of that region and helped cause the instability we see today. Put that on top of our own financial cliff and you have what Obama really wants in a shorter period of time. That is to ruin this country in his next term. Going about things like this he might be able to accomplish this before he even starts his next term. Hey, one less thing for him to do.
@!$%#s Just checked to see if my 'as s holes' as used above would be edited: YEP!!!!! WTF???? How did MC hammer get away with it?
trade secret