Morsi supporters and opponents clash over controversial decrees

Supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi rallied across Egypt on Friday, one day after the Islamist leader passed decrees giving himself sweeping new powers, Trend reported.

Morsi defended his decrees in front of thousands of supporters gathered outside his presidential palace in Cairo. He said they were not designed to "settle scores" with the opposition, but to ensure national stability.

"The decisions I took are aimed at achieving political and social stability," Morsi said.

"It is my duty to continue the march of the revolution and to remove obstacles remaining from the hateful past," he added, referring to a popular revolt that deposed former president Hosny Mubarak in February 2011.

Morsi, who became Egypt's first elected civilian president in June, on Thursday signed onstitutional amendments making his decrees immune to judicial review.