Egypt’s president has powers that rival Mubarak’s

By Hamza Hendawi

Published August 15, 2012 4:00am ET

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Egypt’s president has powers that rival Mubarak’s — Thousands of supporters of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi celebrate as they listen to his speech on a microphone over a car in Tahrir Square, birthplace of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak 18 months ago, in Cairo late Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. Morsi ordered the retirement of the defense minister and chief of staff on Sunday and made the boldest move so far to seize back powers that the military stripped from his office right before he took over. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) | Amr Nabil

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s Islamist president has given himself the right to legislate and control over the drafting of a new constitution. He has installed at the top of the powerful military a defense minister likely to be beholden to him.

Under Mohammed Morsi’s authority, officials have moved to silence influential critics in the media. And though a civilian, he declared himself in charge of military operations against militants in the Sinai peninsula.

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