Egypt: Morsi a president for all Egyptians

The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi who was declared the winner of Egypt's first free presidential election, Sunday has proclaimed himself a leader ``for all Egyptians,'' although he faces a struggle for power with the country's still-dominant military rulers. Sean Patrick Lovett reports listen:

The announcement that the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammad Morsi had won the Presidential run off came after a delay in declaring in the result of the June 16-17 poll. It also saw tens of thousands of celebrating people cram in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak 16 months ago.

World leaders have been quick to offer their congratulations to Mr Morsi. US President Barack Obama telephoned the new President elect to congratulate him on his victory and offer continued support for Egypt's transition to democracy.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also offered his congratulations and commended the Egyptian people for the peaceful atmosphere of their first free presidential election in history.

Speaking on Egyptian television Sunday evening, Morsi declared he wanted an Egypt where there was social justice, freedom and human dignity. He also said he would be President for all Egyptians.

The election commission said Morsi won 51.7 percent in the runoff _ a margin of only 800,000 votes _ over Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak. Just a week ago the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces issued constitutional amendments that stripped the president's office of most of its major powers.

A court earlier dissolved Egypt’s freely elected parliament, which was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, leaving the military also in charge of legislating.

According to the constitutional declaration, the new president won't appoint the defence minister and will lose the title of ``Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.'' Now that the country has a President elect, Mohammad Morsi’s work is only just beginning.

Egypt faces major economic challenges as well as and maintaining law and order _ both of which deteriorated in the post-Mubarak period.