Egypt's President-elect Mohammed Mursi sworn in

Saturday June 30, 2012 - 14:26:32
0 Comments
2991
Super Admin

Egypt's President-elect Mohammed Mursi sworn in

Mohammed Mursi at his swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo on Saturday

Mr Mursi has pledged that the revolution will continue

Continue reading the main story

Egypt votes

Mohammed Mursi has been sworn in as the country's first civilian, democratically elected president at a historic ceremony in Cairo.

Mr Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, read the oath before the Supreme Constitutional Court.

He promised to respect the constitution and the rule of law, and to protect the people of Egypt.

He is now due to speak at Cairo University before going to an army base for the handover from military rule.

On Friday, he praised crowds in Tahrir Square, the focal point of protests that ousted Hosni Mubarak last year.

Mohammed Mursi

Mohammed Mursi

  • Aged 60, married with four children

  • Comes from a village in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya

  • US-educated engineering professor; teaches at Zagazig University

  • Rose through the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood

  • Has been praised for his oratory as an MP

  • After toppling of Hosni Mubarak, he became chairman of Brotherhood's FJP party

Mr Mursi swore a symbolic oath before thousands of people who had gathered to protest against decrees issued by the country's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf).

The military stripped the presidency of many of its powers in recent weeks.

However, Mr Mursi told supporters: "I promise you that I will not give up on any of the powers given to the president."

He promised to be a president for all Egyptians, saying: "The revolution must continue until all its objectives are met."

At every stage Mr Mursi has moved to reassure those nervous about the Muslim Brotherhood, both at home and abroad, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo.

It is a mixture of populism and pragmatism that he is going to need for the battles ahead, our correspondent adds.

'Fear nobody'

Mr Mursi took his oath of office about half an hour later than scheduled at the constitutional court - not as originally planned the parliament, which was dissolved by the Scaf last week.

The assembly, elected last November, was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and other Islamists.

On Friday, Mr Mursi also pledged to work for the release of civilians detained by the military, and to seek justice for those killed and injured in last year's uprising.

He also said he would work to free militant Islamist Omar Abdel-Rahman, imprisoned in the US over the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993.

At one point Mr Mursi opened his jacket to show the crowd he was not wearing a bulletproof vest, saying: "I am reassured, thanks be to God and to you. I fear nobody but God."

Continue reading the main story

Interim constitutional declaration

  • Issued by ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf)

  • Amends Constitutional Declaration of March 2011

  • Grants Scaf powers to initiate legislation, control budget, appoint panel to draft new constitution

  • Postpones new parliamentary elections until new constitution is approved

Mr Mursi also promised to take steps to develop Egypt's struggling economy and to conduct foreign affairs with "dignity".

Handling relations with the Scaf is likely to be a key test for Mr Mursi as he begins his term of office.

The Scaf had previously said it would hand over power to Mr Mursi by the end of the month.

However, Scaf member Major-General Mohamed al-Assar told Egyptian media earlier this week that the head of Scaf, Field-Marshal Hussein Tantawi, would remain as defence minister under Mr Mursi.

Also on Friday, Mr Mursi performed prayers at Cairo's al-Azhar mosque, one of the most prominent seats of learning in Sunni Islam.

He has sought to allay fears among some secular and Coptic Christian Egyptians that he will use his presidency to impose Islamic law.

Mr Mursi's campaign has said he plans to appoint a woman and a Coptic Christian as his vice-presidents.

Are you in Egypt? What are your thoughts about the future of the country as Mohammed Mursi is sworn in? You can send us your views using the form below.

Source: BBC NEWS


Leave a comment