Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud is to meet with Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi on Saturday in the tug-of-war over the important prosecutor general position.
Morsi tried to remove Mahmoud from the post of prosecutor general after the Cairo Criminal Court acquitted all defendants accused in the Battle of the Camel attack on Tahrir Square protesters on 2 February. Public anger has brewed for a long time as critics charge the prosecutor general's office has failed to aggressively prosecute those accused of killing protesters throughout the two years since the Egyptian uprising. An overwhelming number of the accused have been acquitted.
Mahmoud, backed by many in the judiciary, argues that Morsi's attempt to replace the prosecutor general was not within his presidential mandate, as it violates judicial independence and the constitutional principle of the separation of powers.
Egyptian judges condemned earlier on Friday President Morsi's attempt to remove the prosecutor general from his post. Judges' Club spokesperson, Mohamed Abdel-Hadi, said that judges and members of the prosecutor's office would protest in support of Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud outside his Cairo office on Saturday.
Tens have started gathering at the Supreme Court (where Mahmoud's office is located) demonstrating in support of the general prosecutor as he took off to meet President Morsi.
Reportedly, Mahmoud is to return to his office upon conclusion of the meeting with the president.
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