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Egypt crisis: Mass rally held against Mohammed Mursi 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.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. Flag-waving demonstrators are chanting slogans accusing the president and the Muslim Brotherhood of betraying last year's revolution.
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 Mr Mursi sought to defuse the crisis by saying the decree granting him new powers was limited in scope.
On Monday, the Muslim Brotherhood cancelled a rally in support of the president to prevent violence. However, his opponents want him to withdraw the measure completely.
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. Ahead of Tuesday's rally, opposition activists clashed with police. A protester, who was 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. Activists later converged on Tahrir Square - the main focus of the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak - 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." "The people want to bring down the regime," marchers chanted, echoing slogans used in last year's protests.
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." "We don't want a dictatorship again. The Mubarak regime was a dictatorship. We had a revolution to have justice and freedom," protester Ahmed Husseini was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Journalists, lawyers as well as opposition figures including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammed ElBaradei were expected to join Tuesday's rally,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.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.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.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 Muslim Brotherhood, which supports President Mursi, said it was postponing its own demonstration, originally due on Tuesday, 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.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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