Egypt's Mursi annuls controversial decree expanding his powers

CAIRO (AFP) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi on Saturday annulled a decree he issued last month expanding his powers, an official told a Cairo news conference.

“The constitutional decree is annulled from this moment,” said Selim al-Awa, an Islamist politician acting as spokesman of a meeting Dr Mursi held earlier with other political leaders.

A referendum on a draft constitution would however still go ahead as planned on Dec 15, Awa said, explaining that constitutionally Dr Mursi was unable to change the date.

The two issues – the decree and the referendum – were at the heart of anti-Mursi protests that have rocked Egypt in the past two weeks.