Egypt's military grants itself sweeping powers
Egypt's
ruling military has issued a declaration granting itself sweeping
powers, as the country awaits results of Sunday's presidential
elections.
The document by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf)
says new general elections cannot be held until a permanent constitution
is drawn up.Opposition groups condemned the move as amounting to a military coup.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood says unofficial results show its candidate, Mohammed Mursi, has won the election.
The Scaf issued its declaration late on Sunday - just hours after the polls closed.
The document effectively gives the Scaf legislative powers, control over the budget and who writes the permanent constitution following mass street protests that toppled Mr Mubarak, reports say. It also strips the president of any authority over the army.
The full details of the declaration are expected to be announced at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
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'Grave setback'
Interim Constitutional Declaration
- Issued by ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf)
- Amends Constitutional Declaration of March 2011
- Grants Scaf powers to initiate legislation, control budget, appoint panel to draft new constitution
- Postpones new parliamentary elections until new constitution is approved
However, prominent political figure
Mohamed ElBaradei already described the document as a "grave setback for
democracy and revolution".
Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third
in the first round of voting and was the favoured candidate of many in
the protest movement, said the declaration was a "seizure of the future
of Egypt"."We will not accept domination by any party," Mr Sabahi said.
Analysis
From early on, the competing polls suggested a lead for Mohammed Mursi. His campaign staged regular news conferences giving updates from information sent by its monitors around the country.
However, Ahmed Shafiq appeared to repeat his first-round success in the Nile Delta. Some provinces like the Red Sea and South Sinai produced very close results.
But the latest announcements by the Scaf will have a crucial bearing on the outcome of this vote.
It has issued amendments to last year's Constitutional Declaration that will limit the powers of the next president and boost the role of the armed forces.
It will also have a strong influence over the writing of Egypt's new constitution.
Some Egyptians suggest their next leader could now be reduced to a figurehead "like the Queen of England".
Former presidential candidate
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh called the declaration "unconstitutional",
while the influential 6 April protest movement called for mass
demonstrations on Tuesday against the declaration.
Parliament speaker Saad al-Katatni of the Muslim Brotherhood said the declaration was "null and void". The Brotherhood earlier urged Egyptians to protect their revolution after the Scaf dissolved parliament - dominated by the Brotherhood - on Saturday.
Two days earlier, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that last year's legislative polls were unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents.
Soldiers have already been stationed around the parliament with orders not to let MPs enter.
Law and order Mr Mursi ran in Sunday's poll against Ahmed Shafiq, who served as prime minister under former President Hosni Mubarak.
The Muslim Brotherhood said Mr Mursi was holding a 52%-48% lead over Mr Shafiq with almost all the vote counted after Sunday's second-round run-off election.
Speaking at his party headquarters, Mr Mursi pledged to be a president for all Egyptians, adding that he would not "seek revenge or settle scores".
Election candidates
- Aged 70
- Veteran fighter pilot and former air force commander
- Appointed Egypt's first aviation minister, earning reputation for competence and efficiency
- Promoted to PM during February 2011 protests
- Associated with former regime, though denies being backed by ruling military council
- Campaigned on a promise to restore security
- Aged 60
- US-educated engineering professor
- Head of Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)
- Served as independent MP 2000-05
- Quietly spoken, viewed by some as lacking charisma
- Has promised "stability, security, justice and prosperity" under an Islamic banner
But Mr Shafiq's campaign said it rejected "completely" the victory claim by Mr Mursi.
"We are astonished by this bizarre behaviour which amounts to
a hijacking of the election results," Shafiq campaign official Mahmud
Barakeh was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.Official results from the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC) will be announced on Thursday, state TV reported.
Polls began closing at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) on Sunday, after voting was extended by two hours.
Turnout appeared to be down compared to the first round, as many voters have expressed scepticism at the choices they faced.
The BBC's Jon Leyne says that there was less enthusiasm in the run-off election than there was for previous rounds of voting, and some called for a boycott or spoiled ballots.
Mr Shafiq has campaigned on a platform of a return to stability and law-and-order which, correspondents say, many find attractive after months of political turmoil.
But to his critics, the former air force officer is the army's unofficial candidate and a symbol of the autocratic days under Mubarak.
Mr Mursi, meanwhile, has cast himself as a revolutionary and part of the movement that overthrew Mubarak, and has promised economic and political reform.
He has also softened his religious stance in an attempt to attract liberals and minorities.
Mr Shafiq came second in last month's first round, in which turnout among the 52 million eligible voters was only 46%. Official results then gave Mr Mursi 24.8% and Mr Shafiq 23.7%.
The Scaf has vowed to hand over power to the winner by 30 June.
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