
Audio By Carbonatix
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi is due to meet senior judges to try to ease a crisis over the extent of his powers.A decree giving him sweeping new powers was announced on Thursday, sparking violent nationwide protests and leading to a 9% drop in Egypt's stock market.Mr Mursi said on Sunday the decree was temporary and not intended to concentrate power in his hands.He was committed to finding "common ground" with other parties, he said.He also hoped to reach consensus on a new constitution currently being drafted, he added, and the decree was intended to prevent democratically elected bodies from being undermined.Mediation effortsThe Judges' Club, which represents judges throughout the country, called for a nationwide strike to protest against the decree over the weekend.But the top judicial body, the Supreme Judicial Council, appeared not to reject the decree outright, saying it should only apply to "sovereign matters", and urged judges to return to work.Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky has begun efforts to mediate between the president and the judges.The minister said he himself had some reservations about the president's decree, Reuters reported.The president is due to meet members of the Supreme Judicial Council later to discuss the decree, reports said.Several prominent opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed elBaradei, have said they will not engage in dialogue with the president until he rescinds the measure, known as the constitutional declaration.Teenager diesAccording to President Mursi's decree, no authority can revoke presidential decisions.There is also a bar on judges dissolving the assembly, which is drawing up a new constitution.The decree has sparked violent protests in Cairo and across the country since it was announced.On Sunday, a teenager died and 60 people were injured in clashes in the Nile Delta town of Damanhour,Described as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the movement that backs Mr Mursi, 15-year-old Islam Fathy Massoud was killed after its headquarters were attacked.Other clashes saw police firing tear gas in Cairo's Tahrir Square area.Large demonstrations are planned by supporters and opponents of Mr Mursi on Tuesday.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Ten-man Belgium held by Iran in second World Cup draw
8 minutes -
Doku criticised over plan to return home for birth
19 minutes -
Lamine Yamal shows why this could be his World Cup
28 minutes -
Serena Williams to make singles comeback at Wimbledon
39 minutes -
Meloni tells Trump to ‘focus on your own popularity’ as row escalates
48 minutes -
World Cup still waits for real Brazil to show up
57 minutes -
Mahama jokes about Father’s Day gifts, compares bouquet haul to First Lady’s Mother’s Day surprise
57 minutes -
NCPTA backs ban on extravagant school graduations, calls for return to discipline, character building
1 hour -
Ghana ranked 1st in Africa with highest policy rate; cost of credit most expensive
1 hour -
Central Regional NADMO gives residents in dilapidated buildings 14 days to evacuate
2 hours -
Bibiani NPP members call for regional chairman’s resignation over disqualification of aspirants
2 hours -
Cloudy conditions, intermittent rains to persist nationwide – GMet
2 hours -
Zenith SME Business Empowerment Lab urges SMEs to adapt, innovate and thrive in a changing economy
3 hours -
T-bills: Government record 20% undersubscription; interest rates continue to rise
3 hours -
Ghanaian medicinal plant shows potential to starve prostate tumours by blocking blood vessel growth
3 hours