Morsi takes oath of office promising 'new Egypt'
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ISLAMIST Mohammed Morsi promised a "new Egypt" and unwavering support to the military as he took the oath of office yesterday to become the country's first freely elected president, succeeding Hosni Mubarak who was ousted 16 months ago.
In a solemn inauguration ceremony before the Supreme Constitutional Court, Morsi also became the Arab world's first freely elected Islamist president and Egypt's fifth head of state since the overthrow of the monarchy some 60 years ago.
"We aspire to a better tomorrow, a new Egypt and a second republic," Morsi said.
"Today, the Egyptian people laid the foundation of a new life - absolute freedom, a genuine democracy and stability," said Morsi, a 60-year-old US-trained engineer from the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist group that has spent most of the 84 years since its inception as an outlawed organization targeted by successive governments.
He later delivered his inauguration address at a packed Cairo University lecture hall.
Morsi praised the military, which rushed a series of decrees this month that stripped Morsi of significant powers, gave itself legislative power and took control of the process of drafting a permanent constitution. It has also retained influence on key policy issues.
"The armed forces are the shield and sword of the nation," he said. "I pledge before God that I will safeguard that institution, soldiers and commanders, raise its prestige and support it with all the powers available to me so it can be stronger."
Morsi also sent an implicit message of reassurance to Israel, while pledging support for the "legitimate rights" of the Palestinians. He said his administration would honor its international treaties - a thinly veiled reference to the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
In a solemn inauguration ceremony before the Supreme Constitutional Court, Morsi also became the Arab world's first freely elected Islamist president and Egypt's fifth head of state since the overthrow of the monarchy some 60 years ago.
"We aspire to a better tomorrow, a new Egypt and a second republic," Morsi said.
"Today, the Egyptian people laid the foundation of a new life - absolute freedom, a genuine democracy and stability," said Morsi, a 60-year-old US-trained engineer from the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist group that has spent most of the 84 years since its inception as an outlawed organization targeted by successive governments.
He later delivered his inauguration address at a packed Cairo University lecture hall.
Morsi praised the military, which rushed a series of decrees this month that stripped Morsi of significant powers, gave itself legislative power and took control of the process of drafting a permanent constitution. It has also retained influence on key policy issues.
"The armed forces are the shield and sword of the nation," he said. "I pledge before God that I will safeguard that institution, soldiers and commanders, raise its prestige and support it with all the powers available to me so it can be stronger."
Morsi also sent an implicit message of reassurance to Israel, while pledging support for the "legitimate rights" of the Palestinians. He said his administration would honor its international treaties - a thinly veiled reference to the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
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