Egypt’s top judges slam President Mursi for ‘unprecedented assault’.

Egypt’s top judges slam President Mursi for ‘unprecedented assault’.(AA).Egypt’s highest body of judges on Saturday accused President Mohammed Mursi of “unprecedented assault” on the judiciary by assuming sweeping powers putting him beyond judicial oversight, with some going on protest strike. The Supreme Judicial Council said after an emergency meeting that Mursi’s constitutional declaration was “an unprecedented assault on the independence of the judiciary and its rulings.” The council, which handles administrative affairs and judicial appointments, called on the president to remove from the declaration “anything that touches the judiciary.” The Judges Club of Alexandria had announced “the suspension of work in all courts and prosecution administrations in the provinces of Alexandria and Beheira.” And they “will accept nothing less than the cancellation of (Mursi’s decree),” which violates the principle of separation of powers, club chief Mohammed Ezzat al-Agwa said. The Judges’ condemnation of the president’s edicts are the latest blow to Mursi, whose decision Thursday set off a firestorm of controversy and prompted tens of thousands of people to take to the streets in nationwide protests Friday.
Through their statement, the judges join a widening list of leaders and activists from Egypt’s political factions, including some Islamists, who have denounced the decree. The Supreme Judicial Council is packed with judges appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak. It regulates judicial promotions and is chaired by the head of the Court of Cassation. Their move reflects a broad sense of anger within the judiciary. Some judges’ groups and prosecutors have already announced partial strikes to protest Mursi’s decree. The presidents’ opponents nonetheless see the judiciary as the only remaining civilian branch of government with a degree of independence, since Mursi already holds executive power and as well as legislative authority due to the dissolution of parliament.
Mursi said Friday, before thousands of Brotherhood supports outside his presidential palace in Cairo, that he decision was aimed at protecting the nation from old regime loyalists using the judiciary to “harm the country.” He removed on Thursday the country’s longtime attorney general, widely seen as a Mubarak holdover who did not effectively pursue the many cases against former regime officials accused of corruption, and ordered the retrial of former officials if new evidence against them is brought forth. The ousted attorney general, Abdel Maguid Mahmoud, appeared before the judges’ club on Saturday - his first public appearance since Mursi’s decree. He was greeted by raucous applause and cries of “Illegitimate! Illegitimate!” in reference to the president’s decision, and read out a statement saying judicial authorities are looking into the legality of the president’s decision to remove him.Hmmm......Get ready for "ARAB WINTER".......'There will be blood'.Read the full story here.

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