Egyptian presidential decree "unprecedented attack" on judicial independence

 • Judicial council said decree issued by Morsi includes "unprecedented attack" on judicial independence.

 • Judicial council asked Morsi to keep declaration away from touching judicial power and its authorities.

 • New declaration ruled all laws, decrees issued by Morsi since he came into office are final and unchallengeable.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi (R) speaks to his supporters outside the presidential palace al-Ethadeya, where tens of thousands of Egyptians rally to support Morsi's new constitutional declaration issued in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 23, 2012. Meanwhile, thousands of Egyptian protestors flood to Cairo's center Tahrir square Friday to take part in demonstrations rejecting the new constitutional declaration in a rally dubbed the rally of "anger and warning". (Xinhua/Amru Salahuddien)

CAIRO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Supreme Council of Justice said Saturday that the decree issued Thursday by President Mohamed Morsi includes "unprecedented attack" on judicial independence, official al-Ahram website reported.

The judgers announced a statement after an urgent meeting here, saying that the newly-announced constitutional declaration poses an unprecedented attack on the judicial independence and its rulings.

They expressed their regret over the issuance of such declaration.

The judicial council also asked the president to keep the declaration away from touching the judicial power and its authorities, or interfering the affairs of its members and its " dignified rulings."

The new constitutional declaration issued by President Morsi ruled that all laws, decrees and constitutional declarations issued by the president since he came into office on June 30 are final and unchallengeable by any body.

Morsi also decided Thursday to sack Prosecutor General Abdel- Maguid Mahmoud and to appoint Talat Ibrahim Abdullah as new prosecutor general, raising controversies among political forces and the public.

Related:

Egypt's Morsi affirms he isn't biased against any group

CAIRO, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi said Friday that he doesn't align with a side against other one, even the opposition.

Morsi made his statement in a speech before the Presidential palace al-Ethadeya, where tens of thousands of Egyptians rally to support Morsi's new constitutional declaration issued Thursday.   Full story

Egyptian president issues new constitutional declaration

CAIRO, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's presidency spokesman Yasser Ali said Thursday that President Mohamed Morsi has issued a new constitutional declaration.

Ali said the new declaration aims at destroying the old regime' s framework, and annihilating corruption in the country and the society, as well as purging the national machines out of the remainder of the "ruined regime," in order to protect the people and the country, and achieve the societal justness.Full story

U.S. concerned over Egypt's new constitutional declaration

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Friday expressed concerns over Egypt's new constitutional declaration, issued a day earlier by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

"The decisions and declarations announced on Nov. 22 raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.Full story