CAIRO, November 23 (RIA Novosti) - Egypt’s democratic opposition took to the streets on Friday to protest President Mohamed Morsi’s new constitutional declaration, which gives him sweeping new powers that critics say amounts to a coup.
The decree, issued on Thursday, expands Morsi’s executive powers and puts him above the judiciary, declaring that the courts are barred from challenging his decisions. It also exempts the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly writing Egypt's new constitution from judicial review.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square in a “million man march” organized by various opposition forces demanding that the declaration be annulled.
About a dozen people were injured in clashes between Morsi’s supporters and opponents. Protesters in Alexandria set the local headquarters of Morsi's Freedom and Justice Party on fire.
Opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei has accused Morsi of usurping authority and becoming a "new pharaoh."
