Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi told thousands of supporters that his latest decisions granting himself sweeping powers were meant to stop "weevils" from the former regime from stopping progress.
Morsi's speech Friday came while thousands of opponents and supporters clashed in the streets over the decree that critics fear allows him to be a virtual dictator.
The decrees exempt him and other bodies from judicial review.
Morsi's supporters have cast the decrees as temporary measures through the transitional period to prevent supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, including judicial officials, of blocking reform.
"There are weevils eating away at Egypt's nation," he said, accusing some judges of planning to disband the upper house of parliament.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters rallied miles away in Tahrir Square where police fired teargas.
The teargas was fired in a street leading off Tahrir towards the cabinet and parliament buildings, with some canisters landing on the edge of the square, a witness said. Some protestors lit small fires in the street.
State media described
Morsi's decree as "a correction revolution," and the official radio station aired phone calls from listeners praising the president's decree. In contrast, the privately owned
Al-Masry al-Youm newspaper ran a front page headline reading, "Morsi, a dictator, temporarily."
The protest against Morsi reached social media platforms and
newspapers. One of the Egyptian Dailies even wrote the headline “Morsi: a
temporary dictator”.
In turn, Egypt’s veteran Diva Sherihan addressed a message to Morsi, saying
“your decisions exceeded all expectations and eased our consciences but now you
tear up your fake mask with your own hands.”
Via Twitter, she wrote “Your decisions are a legitimate step back; you stripped
the judiciary of its independence and immunity. Your decision is null and void.
November 22, 2012 is a new dawn for the revolution of January 25, 2011.”
“Forgive us dictator; we will not leave Egypt’s future for intentions and
fluctuation,” the Diva concluded.
For the full report, watch the video above
AP