Egypt's president issues constitutional amendments, granting himself far-reaching powers - @AP

[link to www.breakingnews.com]

UPDATES:

President Morsi issues new constitutional declaration appointing new prosecutor-general; immunizing Constituent Assembly and Shura Council from threat of dissolution; and calling for retrial of ex-regime figures

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi issued a constitutional declaration on Thursday calling for the retrial of those accused of killing and injuring protesters during and after last year's Tahrir Square uprising.

The retrials will also target ex-regime officials who have carried out "terrorism" against Egyptian protesters.

An article in the declaration also gives immunity to Egypt's controversy-prone Constituent Assembly – tasked with drafting a new constitution – from a potential court verdict that may have otherwise led to its dissolution.

Another article protects the current Shura Council – the upper, consultative house of Egypt's parliament – from dissolution, effectively pre-empting appeals against the council's constitutionality.

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]