A sit-in by dozens of protesters in Tahrir Square entered its third day Monday. Demonstrators are protesting the new constitutional declaration issued by the president Thursday, which granted him sweeping legislative and executive powers.
The area has returned calm again after a day of clashes between police and protesters, which shifted from Qasr al-Aini Street, where the Cabinet and Parliament buildings are located, to Simon Bolivar Square.
The number of sit-in tents has increased inside the square’s central island. The square’s entrances remain closed by protesters for the fourth day in a row, with traffic movement redirected to alternative roads.
President Mohamed Morsy issued a constitutional declaration on Thursday, making his decrees immune to judicial challenges. He also removed controversial Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud, and made the country’s constitution-drafting assembly and the Shura Council immune to dissolution.
The measure sparked an uproar among judges and non-Islamist movements, which called for massive protests Tuesday in Tahrir. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Morsy was a former leader, called for parallel demonstrations to support his decisions.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
