This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20536323
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Egypt assembly votes on constitution | Egypt assembly votes on constitution |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Islamist-dominated assembly writing a new Egyptian constitution has convened to vote on the final draft. | The Islamist-dominated assembly writing a new Egyptian constitution has convened to vote on the final draft. |
| In one of its first steps, the constituent assembly voted to keep sharia, or Islamic law, as the main source of legislation. | In one of its first steps, the constituent assembly voted to keep sharia, or Islamic law, as the main source of legislation. |
| It came after the constitutional court said it would rule on Sunday whether to dissolve the assembly. | It came after the constitutional court said it would rule on Sunday whether to dissolve the assembly. |
| Egypt's judiciary is in a stand-off with President Mohammed Morsi after he granted himself sweeping new powers. | Egypt's judiciary is in a stand-off with President Mohammed Morsi after he granted himself sweeping new powers. |
| Mr Morsi is to address the nation on television at 17:00 GMT (19:00 local time). | |
| His decree last week has sparked huge protests across the country. | |
| 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. |
| Sharia | Sharia |
| According to Egyptian state TV, the articles so far passed stipulate the Islam is the religion of the state, and the principles of sharia are the "main source of legislation". | According to Egyptian state TV, the articles so far passed stipulate the Islam is the religion of the state, and the principles of sharia are the "main source of legislation". |
| This is unchanged from the previous constitution under Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled as president last year. | This is unchanged from the previous constitution under Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled as president last year. |
| Salafists and some members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood failed to have "principles" replaced by "rules". | Salafists and some members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood failed to have "principles" replaced by "rules". |
| The draft also says that Christianity and Judaism will be the "main source of legislations" for Egyptian Christians and Jews, state TV reported. | The draft also says that Christianity and Judaism will be the "main source of legislations" for Egyptian Christians and Jews, state TV reported. |
| The assembly also adopted a new article that al-Azhar mosque and university, authorities on Sunni Muslim jurisprudence, must be consulted on "matters related to the Islamic sharia". | The assembly also adopted a new article that al-Azhar mosque and university, authorities on Sunni Muslim jurisprudence, must be consulted on "matters related to the Islamic sharia". |
| Officials at the assembly said on Wednesday they were finishing the draft constitution, even though Mr Morsi recently extended its deadline until February. | Officials at the assembly said on Wednesday they were finishing the draft constitution, even though Mr Morsi recently extended its deadline until February. |
| "May God bless us on this day," assembly speaker Hossam el-Gheriyani said at the start of Thursday's session. | "May God bless us on this day," assembly speaker Hossam el-Gheriyani said at the start of Thursday's session. |
| The assembly will vote on each of 234 articles in the draft constitution. It will then be sent to Mr Morsi for approval. After that, he must put it to a popular referendum. | The assembly will vote on each of 234 articles in the draft constitution. It will then be sent to Mr Morsi for approval. After that, he must put it to a popular referendum. |
| 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 included a clause on press freedom, and stated that only courts could suspend or close newspapers. | Mena said it included a clause on press freedom, and stated that only courts could suspend or close newspapers. |
| The assembly also aimed 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 aimed 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. |
| Thursday's vote appeared to be aimed at dodging a ruling by the constitutional court on Sunday on whether the assembly should be dissolved. | Thursday's vote 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. | 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. |
| Critics accuse Mr Morsi of trying to seize absolute power. | Critics accuse Mr Morsi of trying to seize absolute power. |
| Supporters say the extra powers were needed to protect the gains of the revolution against a judiciary with deep ties to overthrown President Hosni Mubarak. | Supporters say the extra powers 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. | 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. | 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 declaration completely withdrawn. | But judges said they were not satisfied and wanted the declaration completely withdrawn. |
| On Wednesday, judges called a strike, saying appeals courts and the court of cassation would halt work until it was revoked. | On Wednesday, judges called a strike, saying appeals courts and the court of cassation would halt work until it was revoked. |
| There have been running protests since the decrees were issued, often spilling over into violent clashes between protesters and riot police. | There have been running protests since the decrees were 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. |
| 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. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |