Egypt army decree hands some powers to premier as Muslim Brotherhood claims win

Egypt's army rulers issued a decree on Wednesday handing presidential powers to Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri but kept control of military affairs and the judiciary, the official news agency said.        

The military, in charge since leader Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February in a popular uprising, has been under pressure to speed a promised transition to civilian rule.          

It appointed Ganzouri after the former cabinet resigned last month during clashes between police and protesters demanding that the army step aside. Ganzouri said on Tuesday he expected to be granted broader powers than his predecessor.           

Meanwhile, The Muslim Brotherhood's political party said Wednesday it had won a majority of the seats up for grabs in Egypt's run-off elections, which would give it at least 40 percent of the seats in parliament decided thus far.              

The Freedom and Justice Party said in a statement that it won 36 of the 56 seats awarded to individual candidates in voting which concluded on Tuesday.                

The Islamist group already won almost 37 percent of the vote in earlier polling, which awarded seats according to party lists.             

Reuters/AP