This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/26/mohamed-morsi-decree-sovereign-matters
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Morsi indicates judicial decree will be limited | Mohamed Morsi indicates judicial decree will be limited |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Egypt's president has agreed that only his decisions related to "sovereign matters" would be protected from judicial review, his spokesman said, indicating he had accepted a judiciary-proposed compromise to try to defuse a crisis. | Egypt's president has agreed that only his decisions related to "sovereign matters" would be protected from judicial review, his spokesman said, indicating he had accepted a judiciary-proposed compromise to try to defuse a crisis. |
| Mohamed Morsi had angered opponents last Thursday with a decree that expanded his powers and put any decision he took beyond legal oversight until parliament was in place. Senior judges proposed he limit that to "sovereign matters". | Mohamed Morsi had angered opponents last Thursday with a decree that expanded his powers and put any decision he took beyond legal oversight until parliament was in place. Senior judges proposed he limit that to "sovereign matters". |
| "The president said he had the utmost respect for the judicial authority and its members," Yasser Ali, his spokesman, told reporters. He said that, regarding the issue of immunity for presidential decisions: "What is intended is those that are linked to matters of sovereignty". | "The president said he had the utmost respect for the judicial authority and its members," Yasser Ali, his spokesman, told reporters. He said that, regarding the issue of immunity for presidential decisions: "What is intended is those that are linked to matters of sovereignty". |
| He added: "The article [in the decree] regarding retrials of past regime officials is dependent on the discovery of new evidence. Regarding the immunity of Morsi's decrees, that is a temporary measure until a constitution is in place and pertains only to what is known as 'sovereign matters' of elected bodies. Both the presidency and the judiciary are cautious for there not to be a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary." | He added: "The article [in the decree] regarding retrials of past regime officials is dependent on the discovery of new evidence. Regarding the immunity of Morsi's decrees, that is a temporary measure until a constitution is in place and pertains only to what is known as 'sovereign matters' of elected bodies. Both the presidency and the judiciary are cautious for there not to be a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary." |
| Ali said there had "been no amendments to the decree." | Ali said there had "been no amendments to the decree." |
| The term "sovereign matters" is ambiguous but tends to mean issues referring to the executive branch of the government, especially foreign policy and national security, but in this case would also include constitutional matters, as Morsi holds legislative power in the absence of parliament. It would therefore extend to granting immunity from legal challenges to the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament, the shura council, which remains in session. | The term "sovereign matters" is ambiguous but tends to mean issues referring to the executive branch of the government, especially foreign policy and national security, but in this case would also include constitutional matters, as Morsi holds legislative power in the absence of parliament. It would therefore extend to granting immunity from legal challenges to the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament, the shura council, which remains in session. |
| Meanwhile, Barack Obama called for calm in Egypt and for the country to resolve differences over its constitutional impasse peacefully, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. | Meanwhile, Barack Obama called for calm in Egypt and for the country to resolve differences over its constitutional impasse peacefully, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. |
| Morsi's decrees have forced the Obama administration to adopt two attitudes towards Morsi, who helped broker a ceasefire in the recent Gaza conflict that was backed by the United States. | Morsi's decrees have forced the Obama administration to adopt two attitudes towards Morsi, who helped broker a ceasefire in the recent Gaza conflict that was backed by the United States. |
| Carney said Morsi had played an "important role" in bringing "about a ceasefire, so that lives could be saved and the possibility of moving forward on negotiations for a more enduring peace could be realised. | Carney said Morsi had played an "important role" in bringing "about a ceasefire, so that lives could be saved and the possibility of moving forward on negotiations for a more enduring peace could be realised. |
| "Separately we've raised concerns about some of the decisions and declarations that were made on 22 November," he added. | "Separately we've raised concerns about some of the decisions and declarations that were made on 22 November," he added. |
| "And we continue to engage with the Egyptians on this. And I think the important issue here is the Egyptian people want a government that reflects their will." | "And we continue to engage with the Egyptians on this. And I think the important issue here is the Egyptian people want a government that reflects their will." |
| Egyptians remained braced for protests against Morsi due on Tuesday. Most schools will be closed and universities and many workplaces will wrap up early in anticipation of protest marches, which are expected to draw tens of thousands to the streets. But protesters camped out in Tahrir Square, the heart of the uprising that unseated Hosni Mubarak almost two years ago, said they would not leave until the decree was scrapped entirely. | Egyptians remained braced for protests against Morsi due on Tuesday. Most schools will be closed and universities and many workplaces will wrap up early in anticipation of protest marches, which are expected to draw tens of thousands to the streets. But protesters camped out in Tahrir Square, the heart of the uprising that unseated Hosni Mubarak almost two years ago, said they would not leave until the decree was scrapped entirely. |
| "We came out in order to cancel the constitutional declaration completely," said Mohamed Fadel, who was speaking among the tents that have been erected in the centre of the square. | "We came out in order to cancel the constitutional declaration completely," said Mohamed Fadel, who was speaking among the tents that have been erected in the centre of the square. |
| However the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups said they would postpone planned counter-demonstrations to "prevent bloodshed and divisions" in the country. | However the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups said they would postpone planned counter-demonstrations to "prevent bloodshed and divisions" in the country. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |