Brawls In Egypt Court As Judges Meet On Constitution

Brawls broke out in an Egyptian courtroom as judges prepared to issue rulings on Tuesday that will either bolster the country’s new President Mohamed Morsi, or undermine him in his power struggle with the military.

With his allies in the Muslim Brotherhood hailing a “decisive” day in the country’s democratic transition, hundreds of Morsi supporters came to protest at the courthouse, accusing the generals of using the judiciary to undermine his authority.

With opinion split on how the Cairo administrative court would rule, tension was high as lawyers, protesters and members of the public pushed and elbowed one other.

“Down, down with military rule,” shouted supporters of the Brotherhood, drawing an angry response from their opponents.

“Down, down with the rule of the (Brotherhood’s) Supreme Guide,” shouted a woman as the courtroom descended into mayhem.

Reuters