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                   Egyptian President Annuls Emergency Decree

   by VOA News

   Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has annulled a decree he issued last
   month granting him sweeping emergency powers, in a push to defuse
   political tensions and deadly violence gripping the country.
   But a spokesman, speaking late Saturday in Cairo, said a referendum on
   a controversial draft constitution will still go forward as planned
   December 15.
   There has been no formal opposition response to the decree annulment,
   and it was not immediately clear what impact the announcement will have
   on opposition groups who mounted protests in the capital.
   The two issues -- the decree and the referendum -- are at the heart of
   anti-Morsi demonstrations that have rocked the country for much of the
   past two weeks.  An opposition umbrella of liberals, secularists and
   supporters of the former regime claim the draft constitution was pushed
   through by President Morsi's Islamist backers, without opposition
   participation.  They have demanded the referendum be canceled and a new
   draft formulated with opposition input.
   Opposition leaders also accuse the president of using the November 22
   decree to create what they say is strong-arm rule reminiscent of ousted
   president Hosni Mubarak.
   The latest developments were announced after day-long meetings between
   key Islamist backers of the president and delegates from opposition
   groups.
   The November 22 decree and the draft constitution days later sparked
   violent protests in Cairo and elsewhere in the country.  The president
   said earlier this week that at least seven people had been killed and
   hundreds of others injured in the demonstrations.
   Egypt's military said Saturday it supports dialogue to resolve
   political differences.

   On Friday, authorities postponed the start of early voting on the
   referendum by Egyptians abroad. Some analysts said the move could
   signal the president may be willing to negotiate with the opposition.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/morsi-annuls-egypts-emergency-decree/
   1561280.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/morsi-annuls-egypts-emergency-decree/1561280.html