Source Rejects Media Reports on Mursi’s Escape from Presidential Palace

A security source at the Egyptian presidential office categorically denied media reports about President Mohammad Mursi’s alleged escape from the presidential palace after the building was stormed by protesters.

Media reports said that protesters marched on Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo, stormed the outer gates, entered the grounds of the compound, and forced Mursi to flee.

In reaction, a security source at the Egyptian presidential palace told FNA that the reports are “untrue”.

“Mursi has ended his official meetings in the palace and left for his house in the fifth alley, therefore the reports about his escape before the official meeting are baseless and unfounded,” the source underscored.

Mursi’s constitutional declaration which allows him to issue decisions and laws unchallenged on a temporary basis has triggered protests by his opponents, and set him on course for a showdown with Egypt’s judges.

Rallies by opponents of Mursi are being held in the iconic Tahrir Square which was at the heart of last’s year revolution.

The constitutional declaration states that Mursi can issue “any decision or measure to protect the revolution,” which are final and not subject to appeal.

Late November, Mursi stressed the “temporary nature” of the measures, valid only until a new constitution is adopted and elections held, and which “are not meant to concentrate power” but devolve it to a democratically-elected parliament.

President Mursi said the measures were also “deemed necessary in order to hold accountable those responsible for the corruption as well as the other crimes during the previous regime and during the transitional period”.