Egyptian protesters vow an end to Morsi's decrees

"Morsi Go" is written in Arabic on the road in Cairo's Tahrir Square on November 24, 2012, a day after opposition-led protests were held in most of Egypt's major cities sparking violent clashes in the canal city of Suez and the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images

CAIRO Egyptian police used tear gas on Sunday morning to disperse protesters in central Cairo who were demanding that President Mohammed Morsi rescind his new, near-absolute powers.

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The clashes occurred on Cairo's Kasr el Eini street.

Several hundred protesters remained in nearby Tahrir Square, where a number of tents have been erected in a sit-in following nearly a week of clashes.

"Our main goal is to bring down Morsi's new decrees. Morsi has elected himself as the new pharaoh," said protester Haidi Ahmed.

Morsi has granted himself sweeping powers to "protect the revolution" and made himself immune to judicial oversight.

Mohammed ElBaradei, a prominent advocate of Egyptian democracy, warned on Saturday of increasing turmoil that could potentially lead to the military stepping in unless the president rescinds his decrees, as the country's long fragmented opposition sought to unite and rally new protests.

• Egypt reformist warns of Morsi decree turmoil
• Egypt's top judges slam Morsi's new powers
• Egyptians protest Morsi's power grab
• Egypt's Morsi grants himself far-reaching powers

The edicts issued on Wednesday have galvanized anger brewing against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, from which he hails, ever since he took office in June as Egypt's first freely elected president.

Critics accuse the Brotherhood - which has dominated elections over the past year - and other Islamists of monopolizing power and doing little to bring real reform or address Egypt's mounting economic and security woes.

[MaryB391]

Watch out, now I bet Morsi will create "czar" positions which are not provided for in Egypt's constitution and which are endowed with sweeping powers without any requirement of legislative approval . . . oh . . . wait . . . that's our president . . .

[js555554]

Trading one dictator for another isn't too uncommon through out history.

[judymar14]

Reform can't be brought to Barbarians.

[opedanderson2]

Gang rapist protesting other gang rapists.....

Send Lara Logan to report

[judymar14]

That's a tacky comment to make after what she went through.

[OneAmerica1]

KRYSTAL1P is correct - Morsi should have called Obama first - he could have shown him things like - how to create a law without anyone voting on it like affordable healthcare - It's funny how the news meadia has no problem pointing out the flaws of foreign governments but hardly a peep about the what's happening with this one. - We have our own security problems - (Bengahzi) and let's not forget the last 4 years of the Obama Economy.
State run media sounds pretty bad but what's the difference between that and a media that favors one party?

[Filmguy870]

color of stuff in head = brown.

[thprop]

The blind leading the blind...

[collie61]

So, now Egypt has drifted backwards in time. They now have a Pharaoh instead of a President. Well, people (sheep) you put him in office, now deal with him.

[Rick_Carter1]

So when do they start building the new pyramids?

[collie61]

As long as the Egyption military is not in line with Morsi, there is still hope things will change.

[Rick_Carter1]

The issue here appears to be whether President Morsi is trying to create a new permanent office for himself instead of the office(s) / position(s) which he was already elected to (i.e., Emperor, Pharaoh, Caesar, Son of God, or maybe even God Supreme, as some have already suggested). - RC

[Rick_Carter1]

(I must say he is certainly leaving a great deal open to conjecture.) - RC

[antoniof123]

You got to love them they voted for the same thing they had and now they don't like it.

I got one word for them idiots.

[krystal1p]

Guess what antoniof123-this country did the same thing! Obama hasn't become the king yet but he certainly thinks he his. Soon, very soon, I fully expect the same riots and unrest in this country. Stupid is as stupid does.