Egyptians Protest Morsi’s Power Grab

Opponents and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi clashed in Cairo on Friday, throwing projectiles and setting off fireworks.

Hundreds of protesters walked the streets in several Egyptian cities to denounce the country’s Islamist president and his organization, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Some of the 200 or so protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square said that the Brotherhood was monopolizing power. They also accused Morsi of exceeding his authority by assuming executive and legislative powers in the absence of parliament.

The protesters also denounced Morsi for forcing several of the military’s top commanders to retire two weeks ago, a move that effectively neutralized what had been a moderating influence from the government.

The rallies were tiny in comparison to the protests that toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Yet they marked the first attempt by Morsi’s opponents to make a major statement against him. However, the new, radically Islamist Egypt may not tolerate dissent from within much longer.

Over the last few weeks, Morsi has made bold moves to consolidate his power and to make Egypt’s new government completely Islamist.

For more information on President Morsi and the Egypt’s sudden move to the radical right, read “Egypt: Morsi Sheds His Moderate Cloak.”