A backwards step for Egypt

The Guardian reports:

Egypt‘s most senior judges have condemned President Mohamed Morsifor granting himself sweeping new powers which they say amount to an “unprecedented assault” on the independence of the judiciary.

The supreme judicial council said work would be suspended in all courts and prosecution offices until the decree passed by the president earlier this week was reversed. …

Morsi’s decree orders the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak, officials and security force members accused of killings during the country’s revolution. Controversially, it also exempts all of Morsi’s decisions from legal challenge until a new parliament is elected, as well as offering the same protection to the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly, which is drawing up the country’s new constitution.

Egypt may have swapped one dictator for another.