Egyptian presidency Morsi decrees "temporary", wants dialogue

The Egyptian presidency said on Sunday it was committed to engaging "all political forces" to reach common ground on the constitution and stressed the "temporary nature" of a decree expanding President Mohamed Morsi's powers.
  
"This declaration is deemed necessary in order to hold accountable those responsible for the corruption as well as other crimes during the previous regime and the transitional period," the presidency said in a statement.

As for Egypt's highest judicial authority its said a decree issued by President Mohamed Mursi and which shields his decisions from judicial review must only be applied to decisions or laws relating to "sovereign matters".
   
The Supreme Judicial Council in a statement read on state TV also called on judges to keep courts and prosecution offices functioning after the influential Judges' Club called on Saturday for a countrywide strike in protest at Mursi's decree.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters clashed with police in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday, marking the third day of violence sparked by Egyptian President President Mohammed Morsi's decision to grant himself extensive new powers.        

In his decree, Morsi put all his decisions beyond legal challenge as long as there is no parliament, sacked the unpopular general prosecutor and opened the door to retrials for the already jailed ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his aides.                          

Riot police used tear gas as protesters hurled rocks toward them in the center of the square, where tents were erected on Friday as part of a sit-in demonstration organized by various Egyptian political groups, according to a Reuters report.                             

Prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei warned Saturday of increasing turmoil that could potentially lead to the military stepping in unless the Islamist president rescinds his new, near absolute powers, as the country's long fragmented opposition sought to unite and rally new protests.                                 

Outside the high court building in Cairo, several hundred demonstrators rallied against Morsi, chanting, "Leave! Leave!" echoing the slogan used against former leader Hosni Mubarak in last year's uprising that ousted him. Police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of young men who were shooting flares outside the court.                

Share prices on the Egypt Exchange plunged almost 9.5 percent by midday (1000 GMT) in the face of the deepening political crisis.                            

The main EGX-30 index shed 9.49 percent to reach 4,923.19 points, according to the Egyptian Exchange, with trading suspended for half an hour due to intense investor selling.       


REUTERS/LBCI

For the full report, please click on the VIDEO above.