Egypt's Morsi moves into Mubarak's old office

Egyptian president-elect, Mohammed Morsi, is greeted by his supporters after taking part in Friday prayers in Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2012. / AP

(CBS/AP) CAIRO - Egypt's new president-elect, Islamist Mohammed Morsi, moved into the office once occupied by ousted leader Hosni Mubarak and started consultations Monday on forming his team and a new government, an aide said.

Morsi was declared on Sunday the winner of Egypt's first free presidential election in its modern history, following a tight race with Mubarak's last Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.

The campaign had deeply polarized the country, pitting a former regime official and former military man- feared to be a continuation of Mubarak's autocratic rule but viewed by some as an agent of stability- against an Islamist.

Many supported Morsi as a representative of the uprising that toppled the old regime and a chance to challenge the military. But Morsi was equally feared among youth groups behind the uprising, which campaigned for a secular democratic state, and among many of the country's Christian minority. Almost half of the voters boycotted the runoff vote last weekend.

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The victory of Morsi, the first civilian president to take over the country's top job, is a stunning achievement for the Islamist group that remained for most of its eight decades a shadowy organization targeted by successive regimes. He pledged he will be a "president for all Egyptians."

CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports that, as Egyptians continued cleaning up after celebrations in Tahrir Square, Morsi had already moved into the office once occupied by his ousted predecessor, and it's no surprise he's wasting little time - there is a lot of work to do.

Now, Morsi faces a daunting struggle for power with the country's still-dominant military rulers who took over after Mubarak's ouster in the uprising.

Just days before a winner was announced, the ruling generals made a series of decisions that gave them sweeping powers, undercutting the authorities of the president, including passing the state budget — and granted military police broad powers to detain civilians.

The generals, who promised to transfer power to an elected leader by July 1, say the moves were designed to fill a power vacuum and to ensure that no one person monopolizes decision-making until a new constitution is drafted.

Two days before the runoff, a decision by a top Egyptian court packed with former regime appointees also dissolved the country's first freely elected parliament, dominated by Islamists, including Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. This left the military council also in charge of legislating duties.

With the parliament dissolved, it is not clear where Morsi will be sworn in. Authorities say he could be sworn before the country's highest court, but his group and supporters are pressing for the parliament to be reinstated, arguing that the court decision only disputed a third of the house's seats.

Thousands of Morsi supporters, backed by some liberal and secular youth groups who were behind the uprising, vowed to press on with their protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square to pressure the ruling generals to rescind their decrees and reinstate the parliament.

Tens of thousands had spent the night in Tahrir in joyous celebration of Morsi's win. By Monday morning, few had stayed in the square, which after nearly a week of a sit-ins, was reopened for traffic but a protesters' tent camp remained in place. Brotherhood officials said the protests will continue until the military responds to their demands.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama telephoned the U.S.-educated Morsi to congratulate him on his victory and offer continued support for Egypt's transition to democracy. The White House said Morsi expressed appreciation for Obama's call and "welcomed U.S. support for Egypt's transition."

Ali said the 60-year-old Morsi arrived at the presidential office on Monday for official meetings and consultations. He said his priority is to form a working presidential team until he finishes consultation over nominating vice presidents.

"His priority is the stability on the political scene," said Yasser Ali, a spokesman for Morsi's presidential campaign.

In an effort to rally support and heal national divisions, Morsi vowed to appoint diverse deputies, including a woman and a Christian. He also has reached out to other presidential hopefuls, who garnered popular support in the first round of elections.

Ali , the spokesman, said there were also consultations to form a national coalition government. The military-backed government is expected to resign later Monday, according to legal tradition after a new president is announced. Ali said he anticipates the government, headed by Kamal el-Ganzouri, would remain in a caretaker role because forming a new one "will take time."

Morsi faces enormous challenges of improving the economy and maintaining law and order — both of which deteriorated in the post-Mubarak period. He has also promised he would nominate a non-Brotherhood member to head the government.

[cbs_tom]

"The Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader, jihad is our path and death in the name of Allah is our goal," Morsi said in his election speech before Cairo University students on Saturday night.

Was this before or after President Obama congratulated him?

[hamiltongrad]

Why are we giving any money to our enemies ? It is not in our interest to have another terrorist state.

[melpol12]

The reason for throwing his khaffeyah clothes in the dumpster is Morsi will soon be in Washington asking for billions, he does not want to look like a radical Arab.

[honest_pols]

It's another sad day for the world, mainly because religious mindset continues to fool and control the people, who are prevented by such religious thinking, from living up to their full potential.

"If it's based on fabricated, subjective religious thinking or religious mindset,
then it must be warped, delusional, and flawed."

Quoted from Jiminy Crooket's:
My God Is Better Than Your God.

[wfw3536]

And here we have Obama congratulate the new president of Egypt. Obama says he stands for women, well the new president of Egypt says a women could never be president, and believes in laws that go back thousands of years that do not even recognize women. Obama is so out of touch.

[sjc_1]

Bush talked democracy when he ran out of excuses for invading Iraq, but what if they elect someone you don't like, is democracy still a good thing? Republicans don't like the right to vote, if you don't vote the way they want you to.

[pohd1]

This is not about Bush or Iraq get over it. Your hate has consumed you and you have gone to the dark side and no one cares what you say. Stop with the stupid Democrat talking points in an article that has nothing to do with are political race.

[sjc_1]

This article is about politics, what happens in one country affects another. If our foreign policy said that we are spreading democracy, but only the kind that does what we want, then that is relevant.

[melpol12]

Not a dime of American taxpayer dollars should be given to feed unemployable Egyptians or to support its useless army. American dollars should be used as bonuses for Egyptian women who want their tubes tied and men that want vasectomies. Wanton breeding practices in the Middle-East must be curbed. Millions of Chinese immigrants are needed in Egypt to turn its wasted sands into computer chips.

[Jesus_to_ground_control]

Mother's Loving Care

I sure hope that he considers women for at least half of the top government posts.

[krotec54]

In about three months.