File photo: Egyptian plain cloth policemen arrest Mohamed Abdul Quddus, Rapporteur of the civil Liberties Committee and member of the Press Syndicate Council, outside the journalists syndicate in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. (Photo: AP)
A prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood has condemned President Morsi for giving himself sweeping powers in a recent Constitutional Declaration.
Mohamed Abdel-Qodous, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and head of the Freedoms Committee at the Journalists Syndicates, said: "I am sorry Mr President. Despite my membership of the Brotherhood, I am a son of the revolution for freedom and I reject the move giving you absolute power, regardless of the reasons behind it or how long it will be in place."
He made the comments via Twitter on Saturday.
The Constitutional Declaration issued on Thursday by President Mohamed Morsi, who hails from the Brotherhood, prevents the judiciary, or any other body, from challenging his decisions. It also said the Shura Council (the upper house of parliament) and the Islamist-led Constituent Assembly cannot be dissolved, despite pending court decisions on their constitutionality.
President Morsi has been branded "the new Pharaoh" by critics.
The declaration also included the sacking of the prosecutor-general, who Morsi had unsuccessfully attempted to remove in October.
Morsi also ordered the retrial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his aides for the killing of protesters during the January 25 Revolution.
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