Protests against President Mursi continue in Cairo

(Vatican Radio) Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi has triggered controversy by issuing a decree likely to lead to retrials of Hosni Mubarak and his aides but which was compared to the ousted leader's autocratic ways.

As President Mursi issued his decree thousands of demonstrators gathered in downtown Cairo for the fourth day to protest against his policies.
The declaration states that the president's decisions cannot be repealed by any authority, including the courts.
His allies say the decree is meant to protect Egypt's revolution but the country’s opposition denounced it as "a coup against legitimacy" and called for mass protests to be held on Friday.
Responding to the announcement, Sameh Ashour, Head of the Lawyers’ Syndicate, called for the proclamation to be annulled:
“We ask for the following: bring down the constitutional proclamation and dissolve the constituent assembly, because it has lost its legitimacy,” said Ashour.
“We call for a national dialogue,” he continued, “to agree on a new mechanism to bring together all the forces and other factions in the country to stop [the] Islamic wing from taking over.”
Included in the decree is an order for retrials which appeared aimed at launching a new prosecution of former President Hosni Mubarak.

President Mursi has also granted immunity for the panel drafting a new constitution from any possible court decisions to dissolve it.

The constitution is a crucial element in Egypt's transition to democracy.

New parliamentary elections will not be held until the document is completed and passed by a popular referendum.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s full report: