Mursi's new Egypt decree draws protesters to Tahrir Square
- 12 years ago
Hundreds of protesters converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, angered by their President Mohamed Mursi.
In a decree on Thursday, Mursi granted himself sweeping powers exempt from any legal challenge until a new parliament is elected. This has caused fury amongst his opponents who fear the move undermines the country's fledgling democracy.
"The people want the fall of the regime," chant the protesters, echoing the same slogan they used a little under two years ago to oust former President Hosni Mubarak.
Protester Ali Seif said that just as demonstrators ousted Mubarak in 18 days, so will they remove Mursi.
Sporadic clashes continued into their fifth day near the square.
The demonstrations began earlier this week on the first year anniversary of last year's violence, when 42 people were killed by security forces.
With graffiti murals of those killed in Egypt's struggle for democracy on the walls around them, protesters once again lobbed Molotov cocktails and stones, with security forces responding with tear gas and rocks.
In a decree on Thursday, Mursi granted himself sweeping powers exempt from any legal challenge until a new parliament is elected. This has caused fury amongst his opponents who fear the move undermines the country's fledgling democracy.
"The people want the fall of the regime," chant the protesters, echoing the same slogan they used a little under two years ago to oust former President Hosni Mubarak.
Protester Ali Seif said that just as demonstrators ousted Mubarak in 18 days, so will they remove Mursi.
Sporadic clashes continued into their fifth day near the square.
The demonstrations began earlier this week on the first year anniversary of last year's violence, when 42 people were killed by security forces.
With graffiti murals of those killed in Egypt's struggle for democracy on the walls around them, protesters once again lobbed Molotov cocktails and stones, with security forces responding with tear gas and rocks.