Morsi defends new constitutional declaration

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has vowed to follow through with his new constitutional declaration, saying Egypt is on the path to “freedom and democracy.”

“I am for all Egyptians. I will not be biased against any son of Egypt,” Morsi told a rally of supporters outside Cairo’s Presidential Palace on Friday. The president also envisioned a bright future for the post-revolution nation.

On Thursday, Morsi issued a new constitutional declaration to expand his powers. The decree opens the way for retrials of officials involved in the clampdown on popular protests that toppled long-standing dictator Hosni Mubarak in early 2011. It also bars courts from challenging Morsi’s decisions.

The move drew fire from the Egyptian opposition who branded it as dictatorial and accused Morsi of trying to put himself above the law.

Morsi’s opposition staged a rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to denounce the president’s move. Also, over two dozen were injured in clashes between Morsi’s supporters and opponents in Suez, Alexandria, Ismailiya and Port Said.

Morsi, however, insisted that his decision is aimed at promoting the country’s political, social and economic stability, and pledged to stand alongside the Egyptians.

The Egyptian president also called for a real and strong opposition but warned that those who try to harm the nation will be held accountable.

“No one has the right to call for chaos,” he emphasized, pledging to reveal the corrupt remnants of Egypt’s former regime.

He said all authorities must be subject to the constitution and vowed to bring to justice the criminals involved in the killing of protesters in the country’s 2011 popular uprising against the Mubarak regime.