NEW YORK TIMES: New cracks emerged in the government of President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt on Sunday over his decree claiming power beyond the review of any court in the country, which has been met with loud protests. While Mr. Morsi defended his decree and insisted that it was only temporary, his justice minister began arguing publicly for a retreat that might defuse an escalating battle between Egypt’s new Islamist leaders and the institutions of its old secular-authoritarian government.
The justice minister, Ahmed Mekki, is an influential former leader of the movement for judicial independence under Hosni Mubarak, and is now one of Mr. Morsi’s closest advisers. He told two television talk shows late Saturday night that he objected to the scope of the president’s decree, which his opponents say could be a first step toward a new Islamist autocracy…
“In his head, the president thought that this would push us forward, but then it was met with all this inflammation,” Mr. Mekki said of Mr. Morsi’s decree. He faulted the president for failing to consult with his opponents before issuing it, but he also faulted the opponents for their own unwillingness to come to the table: “I blame all of Egypt, because they do not know how to talk to each other.”… (more)
