Clashes outside Egypt presidential palace in Cairo

[Valin]

BBC:

12/4/12

 

The BBC's Jon Leyne says that a number of injuries among the protesters have been reported

 

Police in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, have clashed with protesters angry at what they say is the rushed drafting of a new constitution and by President Morsi's recent extension of his powers.

 

Tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the presidential palace.

 

The police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, some of whom managed to cut through barbed wire around the palace.

 

Mr Morsi was in the palace but left as the crowds grew, sources there said.

 

(Snip)

[Valin]

Egyptian Army deploys tanks at presidential palace

12/6/12

 

Protesters gather during clashes between supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy outside the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.

 

The Egyptian Army has deployed tanks outside the presidential palace in Cairo following clashes between supporters and opponents of Mohamed Morsy that left five people dead and nearly 500 wounded.

 

Six tanks and two armoured vehicles belonging to the Republican Guard, an elite unit tasked with protecting the President and his palaces, have been stationed outside the complex.

 

After a night of violence, the opposition plans another demonstration outside the palace late Thursday to press demands that Mr. Morsy shelve a draft constitution adopted by his Islamist allies and rescind decrees giving him sweeping powers.

 

(Snip)

[clearvision]

Seems to be going nowhere.

[Valin]

Seems to be going nowhere.

 

I'm surprised that anything is going on at all. The problem these protestors have is Morsi has the guns.

[Valin]

EGYPT: Morsi rescinds part of controversial power-grab in aftermath of violent protests

12/8/12

 

Morsi is once again placing himself under judicial oversight in order to stop the violent protests and appease the opposition. A vote on the draft constitution is still scheduled for December 15:

 

EGYPT INDEPENDENT – The constitutional referendum will be held on its previously specified date of 15 December and the constitutional declaration issued by President Mohamed Morsy on 22 November has been largely canceled , Mohamed Selim al-Awa announced in a press conference following the conclusion of a “national dialogue” meeting on Saturday night.

 

Awa, appearing with the eight other members of the committee who drafted the new constitutional declaration after the nearly nine-hour meeting’s conclusion, said that the new constitutional declaration will be immune from judicial appeal.

 

According to the new declaration, if a majority of Egyptians vote no to the draft constitution, then a new Constituent Assembly will be elected in three months, and will have six months to draft a new one.

 

Morsy called the meeting on Saturday after a week of protests against the referendum and constitutional declaration and violent clashes between his supporters and opponents that killed at least seven.

 

(Snip)

[Argyle58]

The events in Egypt last fall and on into this year were hailed as the beginning of the Muslim Spring. It looks as if we are now seeing the start of the Muslim Winter. There are many Christians in Egypt, may God watch over them as this power struggle continues to hopefully cycle to a more stable country.

[Valin]

Egypt's opposition rejects Mohammed Morsi compromise on constitution

Egypt's opposition rejected an offer of compromise by President Mohammed Morsi to end the country's crisis over a new constitution as an empty show on Sunday, and called for mass street protests on Tuesday.

 

 

(Snip)

"We do not recognise the draft constitution because it does not represent the Egyptian people," a statement by the opposition coalition National Salvation Front said.

 

"We reject the referendum which will certainly lead to more division and sedition."

 

The compromise was "a continuation of deception in the name of law and legitimacy", said the April 6 Movement, a left-wing group behind last year's revolution against former president Hosni Mubarak which is part of the Front.

 

(Snip)

 

 

OTOH

 

Mohamed Morsi gives Egypt's army police powers ahead of referendum

President Mohamed Morsi has ordered Egypt's army to take on police powers – including the right to arrest civilians – in the run-up to a divisive constitutional referendum that has triggered mass street protests.