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| Egypt crisis: Assembly rushes to finish constitution | Egypt crisis: Assembly rushes to finish constitution |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The assembly writing a new Egyptian constitution says it hopes to vote on a draft version as early as Thursday. | The assembly writing a new Egyptian constitution says it hopes to vote on a draft version as early as Thursday. |
| The news came as the constitutional court indicated it would rule on Sunday whether to dissolve the assembly. | The news came as the constitutional court indicated it would rule on Sunday whether to dissolve the assembly. |
| The assembly is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists who back President Mohammed Morsi. It is being boycotted by other members. | |
| Egypt's judiciary is in a stand-off with President Morsi after he granted himself sweeping new powers. | |
| Mr Morsi's decree last week has sparked huge protests across the country. | |
| Officials at the constituent assembly said on Wednesday they were finishing the draft constitution, even though Mr Morsi recently extended its deadline until February. | |
| A vote was expected on Thursday and Egyptian TV said it would broadcast the event live. | |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says issuing a constitution in these circumstances would be a deeply inflammatory move. | The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says issuing a constitution in these circumstances would be a deeply inflammatory move. |
| Opposition figure and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa told Reuters news agency: "This is nonsensical and one of the steps that shouldn't be taken, given the background of anger and resentment to the current constitutional assembly." | Opposition figure and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa told Reuters news agency: "This is nonsensical and one of the steps that shouldn't be taken, given the background of anger and resentment to the current constitutional assembly." |
| 'Sacred mission' | 'Sacred mission' |
| Egypt's state-run news agency Mena said on Thursday it had obtained details of the draft constitution. | Egypt's state-run news agency Mena said on Thursday it had obtained details of the draft constitution. |
| Mena said it includes a clause on press freedom and says that only courts can suspend or close newspapers. | Mena said it includes a clause on press freedom and says that only courts can suspend or close newspapers. |
| The assembly also aims to set up a national security council led by the president and consisting of key officials such as the prime minister, defence minister and intelligence chief, Mena said. | The assembly also aims to set up a national security council led by the president and consisting of key officials such as the prime minister, defence minister and intelligence chief, Mena said. |
| Liberal, left-wing and Christian members have boycotted the assembly, accusing the Islamists of trying to impose their vision. | Liberal, left-wing and Christian members have boycotted the assembly, accusing the Islamists of trying to impose their vision. |
| Its latest move appeared to be aimed at dodging a ruling by the constitutional court on Sunday on whether the assembly should be dissolved. | Its latest move appeared to be aimed at dodging a ruling by the constitutional court on Sunday on whether the assembly should be dissolved. |
| The constitutional court's deputy chairman, Maher Sami, said in a televised speech that the ruling would go ahead. | The constitutional court's deputy chairman, Maher Sami, said in a televised speech that the ruling would go ahead. |
| "The court is determined to rise above its pain and continue its sacred mission until the end, wherever that takes us," he said. | "The court is determined to rise above its pain and continue its sacred mission until the end, wherever that takes us," he said. |
| The court has already dissolved the lower house of Egypt's parliament, which was led by the Muslim Brotherhood. | The court has already dissolved the lower house of Egypt's parliament, which was led by the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| The declaration that sparked protests gave Mr Morsi powers to take any measures to protect the revolution, and stated that no court could overturn his decisions. | |
| It is valid until a new constitution is in place. | It is valid until a new constitution is in place. |
| Critics accuse Mr Morsi of trying to seize absolute powers. | |
| Supporters say the decrees were needed to protect the gains of the revolution against a judiciary with deep ties to overthrown President Hosni Mubarak. | Supporters say the decrees were needed to protect the gains of the revolution against a judiciary with deep ties to overthrown President Hosni Mubarak. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Morsi told Time magazine that he would surrender his new powers once a new constitution was in place. | |
| "If we had a constitution, then all of what I have said or done last week will stop," he said. | "If we had a constitution, then all of what I have said or done last week will stop," he said. |
| "I hope, when we have a constitution, what I have issued will stop immediately." | "I hope, when we have a constitution, what I have issued will stop immediately." |
| On Monday, Mr Morsi told senior judges that the decrees would be restricted to "sovereign matters" designed to protect institutions. | |
| But judges said they were not satisfied and wanted the measure completely withdrawn. | But judges said they were not satisfied and wanted the measure completely withdrawn. |
| On Wednesday, judges called a strike, saying appeals courts and the court of cassation would halt work until the decree was revoked. | On Wednesday, judges called a strike, saying appeals courts and the court of cassation would halt work until the decree was revoked. |
| There have been running protests since the decree was issued, often spilling over into violent clashes between protesters and riot police. | There have been running protests since the decree was issued, often spilling over into violent clashes between protesters and riot police. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood and the more radical al-Nour party have called for a counter-protest in Cairo on Saturday. | The Muslim Brotherhood and the more radical al-Nour party have called for a counter-protest in Cairo on Saturday. |
| If approved by the constituent assembly, the draft constitution would then be put to a national referendum. | If approved by the constituent assembly, the draft constitution would then be put to a national referendum. |
| Are you in Egypt? Are you taking part in the protests? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Egypt? Are you taking part in the protests? Send us your comments 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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