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Egypt anti-military protesters fill Tahrir Square | Egypt anti-military protesters fill Tahrir Square |
(40 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of protesters have filled Cairo's Tahrir Square to denounce a move by Egypt's ruling generals to seize sweeping powers. | Tens of thousands of protesters have filled Cairo's Tahrir Square to denounce a move by Egypt's ruling generals to seize sweeping powers. |
Last weekend, the military dissolved parliament, claiming legislative power. | |
Egyptians are still awaiting the result of presidential elections, which Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi says must be declared immediately. | |
The military has defended its new powers, pledging to deal firmly with threats to stability. | |
In a TV statement, the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces (Scaf) blamed the country's political "division and confusion" on the early release of unofficial results. It said the premature announcement was "unjustifiable". | In a TV statement, the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces (Scaf) blamed the country's political "division and confusion" on the early release of unofficial results. It said the premature announcement was "unjustifiable". |
It did not name the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which announced on Tuesday that Mr Mursi, had won with 51.74% of the vote, citing official figures. | |
His opponent, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, has also said that he is confident of victory. | |
Results delayed | Results delayed |
Islamist, secular and youth groups backed a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for protests across Egypt after Friday prayers. | Islamist, secular and youth groups backed a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for protests across Egypt after Friday prayers. |
The cleric leading prayers in Tahrir Square said Mohammed Mursi was the clear winner in presidential elections last weekend, the Associated Press reports. | The cleric leading prayers in Tahrir Square said Mohammed Mursi was the clear winner in presidential elections last weekend, the Associated Press reports. |
Mr Mursi told a news conference that he would accept the outcome no matter what it was, "but we will not allow anyone to manipulate the results". | |
He added that if he secured victory, Egypt would have a prime minister "accepted by everyone". | |
Results from the run-off election were originally due out during the week but have been delayed. In its statement on Friday, the Scaf called on supporters of both candidates to accept the result. | Results from the run-off election were originally due out during the week but have been delayed. In its statement on Friday, the Scaf called on supporters of both candidates to accept the result. |
Thousands of people, mostly Islamists, have demonstrated for three consecutive days against the ruling military council's two decrees. | Thousands of people, mostly Islamists, have demonstrated for three consecutive days against the ruling military council's two decrees. |
The first decree ordered parliament to be dissolved. It came after a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling that the law on elections to the lower house was invalid because party members had been allowed to contest seats reserved for independents. | The first decree ordered parliament to be dissolved. It came after a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling that the law on elections to the lower house was invalid because party members had been allowed to contest seats reserved for independents. |
The second decree gave the generals complete control over legislation and military affairs until fresh parliamentary elections are held. | The second decree gave the generals complete control over legislation and military affairs until fresh parliamentary elections are held. |
The justice ministry has also granted soldiers the right to arrest civilians for trial in military courts until the ratification of a new constitution. | The justice ministry has also granted soldiers the right to arrest civilians for trial in military courts until the ratification of a new constitution. |
Mr Mursi condemned the military's decision to dissolve parliament and said there was "no need for a declaration that cripples the powers of the coming president". | |
Human Rights Watch has said the moves suggest there will not be a "meaningful" handover of power to a civilian administration by 30 June and conditions "ripe" for further human rights abuses have been created. | Human Rights Watch has said the moves suggest there will not be a "meaningful" handover of power to a civilian administration by 30 June and conditions "ripe" for further human rights abuses have been created. |
'Media manipulation' | 'Media manipulation' |
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports that opponents of the Brotherhood are now running a concerted campaign to discredit its claim that Mr Mursi won last weekend's presidential election run-off. | |
On Thursday evening, Mr Shafiq - a former air force commander who served briefly as former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister - made his first public appearance since the election to claim victory for himself. | On Thursday evening, Mr Shafiq - a former air force commander who served briefly as former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister - made his first public appearance since the election to claim victory for himself. |
"I am fully confident that I will be the legitimate winner," he told supporters at a Cairo hotel. | "I am fully confident that I will be the legitimate winner," he told supporters at a Cairo hotel. |
Media sympathetic to Mr Shafiq and the Scaf have begun to demonise the Brotherhood, our correspondent says. | Media sympathetic to Mr Shafiq and the Scaf have begun to demonise the Brotherhood, our correspondent says. |
One journalist, Gamal el-Ghetani, said the attempt by the Brotherhood to gain power was like the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany in the 1930s. The newspaper al-Dustour said the Brotherhood planned a bloodbath if Mr Mursi was not declared the winner. | One journalist, Gamal el-Ghetani, said the attempt by the Brotherhood to gain power was like the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany in the 1930s. The newspaper al-Dustour said the Brotherhood planned a bloodbath if Mr Mursi was not declared the winner. |
Members of the HPEC have now suggested a result may now be declared on Sunday. An announcement had been expected on Thursday, but officials said hundreds of complaints had been received from the two candidates. | Members of the HPEC have now suggested a result may now be declared on Sunday. An announcement had been expected on Thursday, but officials said hundreds of complaints had been received from the two candidates. |
"I have faith in the judges of Egypt, but too much delay will raise question marks," Saad al-Katatni, a Brotherhood leader and speaker of the dissolved lower house of parliament told al-Jazeera. "The result is already known and it is Mohammed Mursi." | "I have faith in the judges of Egypt, but too much delay will raise question marks," Saad al-Katatni, a Brotherhood leader and speaker of the dissolved lower house of parliament told al-Jazeera. "The result is already known and it is Mohammed Mursi." |
Are you in Egypt? How do you feel about the current situation? Please get in touch using the form below. | Are you in Egypt? How do you feel about the current situation? Please get in touch using the form below. |