Egypt’s Morsi annuls decree, referendum remains

Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has annulled a decree he issued last month that gave him far-reaching powers and triggered a wave of violent protests across the country.

The announcement came after several hours of talks between the president, the vice president and a number of public and political figures in Egypt.

Vice president Mahmoud Mekki said in a referendum on a draft constitution will go ahead as planned on December 15.

The main opposition figures heading the National Salvation Front had boycotted the meeting and had earlier called for their supporters to take to the streets.

Egypt has been deeply polarised and has plunged into a new wave of violence since the announcement of the decree in November.

The move was denounced as a dictatorial “power grab” by the opposition, but one Mr Morsi had defended as necessary to protect reforms.

“The constitutional decree is annulled from this moment,” said Selim al-Awa, an Islamist politician and advisor to Mr Morsi.

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