'We're learning how to be free,' says Egypt's Mursi
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Mohamed Mursi vowed in an interview published Wednesday to surrender his new special powers when a new constitution is in place, and pleaded for patience as Egypt learns to be free.
Dr Mursi dismissed criticism of his power grab and said protests on the streets of Cairo were a positive sign that Egypt was on the path to democracy after overthrowing dictator Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.
"The world stage is very difficult. It's not easy to be on the world stage," admitted Dr Mursi, who won a cliffhanger election in June, speaking briefly in English at the start of his interview with Time magazine.
"My chief responsibility is to maintain the national ship to go through this transitional period. This is not easy. Egyptians are determined to (move) forward within the path of freedom and democracy," he said.
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