After Egypt’s President forced retirement of top army leaders, opposition claims it’s unconstitutional, calls Aug 24 protests

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Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Mursi has defended his surprise move to retire his two powerful generals, saying the decision, described as “revolutionary” by local media, was in the “benefit of this nation.”

Mursi was speaking after replacing powerful head of the armed forces Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and chief-of-staff Gen Sami Anan.

Egyptian media today hailed 60-year-old Mursi’s move as “revolutionary” and aimed at curbing the power of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

76-year-old Tantawi was the head of SCAF, which ruled the country following ouster of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Tantawi was defence minister for nearly two decades under Mubarak.

“The decisions I took today were not meant ever to target certain persons, nor did I intend to embarrass institutions, nor was my aim to narrow freedoms,” Mursi said hours after presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali announced the move in a televised statement. “I did not mean to send a negative message about anyone, but my aim was the benefit of this nation and its people,” Al Jazeera quoted Mursi as saying.

Mursi praised the work of the armed forces, saying his decision would free them to focus on their professional tasks.

Mursi also annulled a constitutional addendum that was issued by the SCAF on June 17 under which the Army took control of legislative powers and limited the president’s powers, after a Supreme Court verdict dismissed the elected parliament. He also amended the SCAF-issued March 30, 2011, Constitutional Declaration.

The new Constitutional Declaration grants Mursi full executive and legislative authority, as well as the power to set all public policies in Egypt and sign international treaties.

The state-run Al-Akhbar newspaper termed Mursi’s actions as “revolutionary” while Al-Masri Al-Yom said, “Mursi grabs all the powers”.

Field Marshall Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi was appointed as the new minister of defence and general commander of the Egyptian forces.

Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, assumed the country top post on June 30.

Yesterday, Mursi appointed Tantawi and Anan as ‘advisers’ to the president. Both of them were also given Egypt’s highest state honour — the Nile Medal. ref: PTI

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USAfrica: As Egypt’s corrupter-in-chief Mubarak slides into history’s dustbin.  By Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/01/30/chido-nwangwu-as-egypt-corrupter-in-chief-mubarak-slides-into-historys-dustbin-egyptians-not-waiting-for-obama-and-united-nations/

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Opposition calls Mursi’s decisions attacked as unconstitutional; calls for protest on August 24 and 25.

Member of the dissolved parliament Mohamed Abu Hamed denounced President Mohamed Mursi’s decisions to cancel the military council’s constitutional amendments (which also ordered) Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Anan to retire.
The liberal ex-MP insisted that Mursi’s decisions are unconstitutional, adding that he has lost his legitimacy.
He called on Egyptians to take to the streets on August 24 and 25 to topple the Muslim Brotherhood and their attempt to control state institutions.
Abu Hamed argued on Twitter that the elected president issued a constitutional declaration to expand his power without the people’s consent.
He insisted that Mursi’s decision to cancel the constitutional amendments is not a “sovereign decision” and must be prosecuted. He suggested that he is in the process of submitting requests to the constitutional court to invalidate the decision.
The longtime opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood described next week’s revolt against Egypt’s most powerful Islamist group as a “people’s battle”, adding that its purpose is to express rejection to the “Brotherhood-izing” of the defense ministry.
He explained that Mursi’s decision to change top army generals is a proof that the MB has begun “Brotherhood-izing” state institutions.
“Egypt will not become a Muslim Brotherhood state. This was a popular revolution… and Egypt will not become a military state”, Abu Hamed insisted. He urged Mursi to protect next week’s anti-MB protests, warning that the Islamist president will be held fully accountable for any attacks that may happen during the protests. ref: Aswat Masriya of Cairo

USAfrica: As Egypt’s corrupter-in-chief Mubarak slides into history’s dustbin.  By Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/01/30/chido-nwangwu-as-egypt-corrupter-in-chief-mubarak-slides-into-historys-dustbin-egyptians-not-waiting-for-obama-and-united-nations/

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https://usafricaonline.com/2012/01/25/jonathans-boko-haram-problem-and-firing-of-ringim-by-chido-nwangwu/

Related insight: USAfrica’s October 17, 2001 special report/alert: Nigeria’s bin-Laden cheerleaders could ignite religious war, destabilize Africa. By USAfrica’s Publisher Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/chido.binladennigeria.html

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=USAfrica+Chido+Nwangwu+al-qaeda+terrrorism+nigeria&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

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Related and prior reporting on the Jos crises on USAfrica, click here: https://usafricaonline.com/2011/08/16/10-killed-in-renewed-violence-near-jos/

News archives related to Jos, here https://usafricaonline.com/?s=jos

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http://www.groundreport.com/World/310-killed-by-Nigerias-talibans-in-Bauchi-Yobe-n-M/2904584

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Follow us at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido, Facebook.com/USAfrica247 n Twitter.com/Chido247

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• Nigeria’s bin-Laden cheerleaders could ignite religious war, destabilize Africa. By USAfrica’s Publisher Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/chido.binladennigeria.html http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=USAfrica+Chido+Nwangwu+al-qaeda+terrrorism+nigeria&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 https://usafricaonline.com/tag/al-qaeda/ 310 killed by Nigeria’s ‘talibans’ in Bauchi, Yobe n Maiduguri; crises escalate. USAfricaonline.com  on  July 28, 2009. www.usafricaonline.com/chido.ngrtalibans09.html http://www.groundreport.com/World/310-killed-by-Nigerias-talibans-in-Bauchi-Yobe-n-M/2904584

The greatest Igbo ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s great farewell in Aba. By Chido Nwangwu   https://usafricaonline.com/2012/02/28/the-greatest-igbo-odumegwu-ojukwu-farewell-in-aba-by-chido-nwangwu

USAfrica: Ikemba ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s farewell in Aba, today February 28, 2012, reflected a fitting tribute, historically meaningful celebration, proper regard and deserving appreciation of the greatest Igbo, in my opinion, to have ever lived (like him or hate him).

I SALUTE Aba (aka Enyimba city), the robust and fearless town I was born, bred and raised, for giving the Ikemba, our Ochiagha, Gburugburu, Oka oburu uzo, dike na ndu ma n’onwu, mgbadike anyi, a hero’s farewell.

To the Ikemba, may your valiant soul rest in peace and dignity.

We will, and I, Chido Nwangwu, will never forget to continue to tell my generation and the next about your towering courage through tempest and thunder; through sorrow, pain, tears, blood…. •Dr. Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks, first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; and recipient of several journalism and public policy awards, was recently profiled by the CNN International for his pioneering works on multimedia/news/public policy projects for Africans and Americans. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/07/29/mpa.african.media.bk.a.cnn.

News: At Ojukwu memorial in Dallas Texas, USAfrica’s Chido Nwangwu challenges the Igbo nation to say never again like Jews.

Ojukwu trouble and Ikemba titles. By Chido Nwangwu

• For seasoned insights and breaking news on these issues, log on to USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica powered e-groups including Nigeria360 at yahoogroups and USAfrica at googlegroups. Follow us at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido and Twitter.com/Chido247