The Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi called the Egyptians to vote on a new constitution prepared by a Committee that witnessed serious conflicts between the supporters of the president and the opposition. Egypt has been witnessing marches or demonstrations by the opposition since 20 days, in Tahrir Square and in front of Ittihadya Palace, where President Morsi is managing the leading Arab country.
Such call for referendum is expected to lead to deadly confrontation between the supporters and the opposition, after Egypt witnessed clashes between the Muslim Brotherhood members and other citizens who are against Morsi’s decisions, knowing that such clashes led to 7 dead bodies among them one MB member, in addition to more than 700 injuries.
Moreover, President Morsi gave the army what is called “Judicial arrest rights”, so that Egypt’s army can play a role in securing the referendum and help the Ministry of Interior to control the tough situation. Months back, President Morsi criticized the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces when it gave the same right to the army officers to secure the presidential elections; however, Morsi is now doing the same thing.
Politicians in Egypt refused that the army would be part of the political conflicts, but it seems that Morsi insists to push the army to face the opposition in the streets. Liberals, leftists and other opposition parties called for demonstrations in all the Egyptian governorates today, while the Islamists called for two demonstrations in Cairo, so that they can show support for the President’s decisions and for the new constitution.
Morsi’s decision to make the referendum on December 15 without having a national dialogue, angered the opposition leaders, such as Mohamed Baradie, Hamdeen Sabahy and Amr Mousa. They insist on cancelling the referendum and re-creating a constitution committee that represent all Egyptians to write a new constitution, without domination from the Islamists on the committee’s decisions.
Furthermore, the Egyptian army is now securing the Presidential Palace, hoping to stop the protesters from getting near to it, but such trials failed in the last week’s demonstrations as the protesters made it through the fences and reached to the gates of the palace. Islamists such as Khayrat Al Shater and Hazem Salah Abu Ismaiel warned the protesters from getting near the palace and said they would go to the streets with thousands to protect the president and the palace. Such threats were said despite the protesters did not try to break into the palace in last week’s demonstrations and their peaceful attitude was seen all the time, except when the MB members attacked them and removed their tents near Ittihadya Palace.
The National Salvation Front is warning the Islamists from more clashes as it will lead to a civil war, while the president is ignoring the demands of Tahrir Square and calling all Egyptians to participate in the referendum next Saturday. The army said in a statement that all sides should have negotiations to avoid further troubles, but the opposition refused to meet President Morsi, and after Egyptians were killed on Wednesday, and they said that having a dialogue with the President should come after canceling the referendum.
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