Fears that Egypt is on the way to Islamic state (PHOTOS)

 

Police fired tear gas after hundreds of demonstrators began pelting them with rocks on a street  between the US Embassy and the historic square.

Liberal and secular demonstrators, as well as those loyal to former president Hosni Mubarak, have been staging sit-in protests on the square since Friday to demand President Mohamed Morsi revoke recent decrees granting him sweeping powers.

A march planned for later in the day will see demonstrators converging on Tahrir Square from various points throughout the city. The Muslim Brotherhood, who backed Morsi’s presidential bid, and the ultraconservative Nour party decided to cancel a counterdemonstration amidst concerns it would lead to more violence.

Yet President Morsi insists that his power seizure is “temporary”, and is open to political dialogue. He had agreed to meet the country's judges on Monday to negotiate a solution to the crisis, though no amendments to the declaration were forthcoming.

“The presidency reiterates the temporary nature of these measures, which are not intended to concentrate power,”Morsi stated. “The presidency stresses its firm commitment to engage all political forces in an inclusive democratic dialogue to reach a common ground.”

On Thursday Morsi issued an edict which effectively eliminated judicial oversight of his decrees, laws and decisions until a new constitution is ratified. He further said no court could dissolve the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly which is currently drafting the country’s new national charter.

He extended the assembly’s deadline to finish drafting the new constitution by two months, which was previously scheduled to be completed by December 5.

Since Thursday’s announcement, a number of Freedom and Justice Party and Muslim Brotherhood offices throughout the country have been torched – while more than 500 people have been injured in violent protests.

One person has been killed and dozens injured as anti-government protesters attacked a provincial capital's Muslim Brotherhood office.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 strikes have taken place in the past two months, which signals the largest wave of industrial action since the fall of Hosni Mubarak.

This has included action by the nation’s 100,000 doctors, who have threatened to resign en masse. One of Morsi’s main aims through the acquisition of further powers was to deal with this emerging social movement.

Protesters run to hide from tear gas during clashes with police near Tahrir Square as anti-Morsi protesters start to gather in the square in Cairo November 27, 2012. (Reuters / Asmaa Waguih)

Egyptian protesters wave their national flag as they shout political slogans against President Mohamed Morsi's decree granting himself broad powers during a demonstrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square on November 27, 2012. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)

Riot police use tear gas during clashes with anti-Morsi protesters at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. (Reuters / Ahmed Jadallah)

(Image from twitter user@Basil El-Dabh)

An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on November 27, 2012 during clashes with the Egyptian Riot Police. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)

Egyptian protesters run away from tear gas on November 27, 2012 during clashes in Omar Makram street, off Tahrir Square in Cairo. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)

Egyptians riot police stand by during a face off with protesters on November 27, 2012 during clashes in Omar Makram street, off Tahrir Square in Cairo. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)

Egyptians youth and demonstrators hurl stones towards Egyptian security forces on November 27, 2012 during clashes with the Egyptian riot police in Omar Makram street, off Tahrir Square in Cairo. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)

A general view of Egypt landmark Tahrir Square is seen on November 27, 2012 in Cairo. (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)