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Egypt crisis: Mass rally held against Mohammed Mursi | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of people are holding a protest in Cairo against Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi, who last week granted himself sweeping new powers. | |
Demonstrators are waving flags and chanting slogans against the president. | |
Mr Mursi has sought to defuse the crisis by saying the scope of his new powers is limited, but his opponents want him to withdraw his decree. | Mr Mursi has sought to defuse the crisis by saying the scope of his new powers is limited, but his opponents want him to withdraw his decree. |
On Monday, the Muslim Brotherhood cancelled a rally in support of the president to prevent violence. | On Monday, the Muslim Brotherhood cancelled a rally in support of the president to prevent violence. |
Ahead of the rally opposition activists clashed with police. A protester, reported to be in his fifties, died of a heart attack after inhaling tear gas. | |
Marches later converged on Tahrir Square from across the capital on Tuesday, for one of the largest demonstrations to date against Mr Mursi. | |
Mona Amer, a spokesman for the opposition movement Popular Current, told Reuters: "We asked for the cancellation of the decree and that did not happen." | Mona Amer, a spokesman for the opposition movement Popular Current, told Reuters: "We asked for the cancellation of the decree and that did not happen." |
A group of protesters camped on Cairo's Tahrir Square - the main focus of the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak last year- told AFP news agency: "We will stay in Tahrir until Mursi cancels his declaration." | A group of protesters camped on Cairo's Tahrir Square - the main focus of the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak last year- told AFP news agency: "We will stay in Tahrir until Mursi cancels his declaration." |
Journalists, lawyers as well as opposition figures including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammed ElBaradei were expected to join Tuesday's rally, | |
Protests are also being held in Alexandria and other cities. | |
The president's decree, known as the constitutional declaration, said no authority could revoke his decisions. | |
There is a bar on judges dissolving the assembly drawing up a new constitution. The president is also authorised to take any measures to preserve the revolution, national unity or safeguard national security. | There is a bar on judges dissolving the assembly drawing up a new constitution. The president is also authorised to take any measures to preserve the revolution, national unity or safeguard national security. |
Critics say the decree is an attack on the judiciary. It has sparked violent protests across the country. | |
On Monday Mr Mursi told senior judges that the scope of the measure would be restricted to "sovereign matters", designed to protect institutions. | On Monday Mr Mursi told senior judges that the scope of the measure would be restricted to "sovereign matters", designed to protect institutions. |
The Muslim Brotherhood, which supports President Mursi, said it was postponing its own demonstration to avoid "public tension". | |
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the postponement is another sign that the government wants to defuse confrontation, but it remains to be seen whether it ends the days of angry and sometimes violent protests. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the postponement is another sign that the government wants to defuse confrontation, but it remains to be seen whether it ends the days of angry and sometimes violent protests. |
Egypt's union of judges, known as the Judges Club, rejected the president's statement, calling it "worthless" and said they would continue to suspend work in courts. | |
Are you in Egypt? What do you think about President Mursi's attempt to defuse the crisis? Are you taking part in any protests? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Egypt? What do you think about President Mursi's attempt to defuse the crisis? Are you taking part in any protests? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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