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Morsi Flees Palace As Protests in Cairo Turn Violent

Dec. 4, 2012 4:46pm Jason Howerton

Egyptian protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a rally in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Egyptian riot police beefed up security around the presidential palace Tuesday ahead of a massive rally planned by activists protesting the Islamist leader’s assumption of nearly unrestricted powers and a draft constitution hurriedly adopted by his allies. (Credit: AP)

CAIRO (AP) — A protest by at least 100,000 Egyptians outside the presidential palace in Cairo turned violent on Tuesday as tensions grew over Islamist President Mohammed Morsi’s seizure of nearly unrestricted powers and a draft constitution hurriedly adopted by his allies.

Crowds around the capital and in the coastal city of Alexandria were still swelling several hours after nightfall. The large turnout signaled sustained momentum for the opposition, which brought out at least 200,000 protesters to Cairo’s Tahrir Square a week ago and a comparable number on Friday. They are demanding the Morsi rescind decrees that placed him above judicial oversight.

In a brief outburst, police fired tear gas to stop protesters approaching the palace in the capital’s Heliopolis district. Morsi was in the palace conducting business as usual while the protesters gathered outside. But he left for home through a back door when the crowds “grew bigger,” according to a presidential official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

The official said Morsi left on the advice of security officials at the palace and to head off “possible dangers” and to calm protesters. Morsi’s spokesman, however, said the president left the palace at the end of his work schedule through the door he routinely uses.

The violence erupted when protesters pushed aside a barricade topped with barbed wire several hundred yards from the palace walls. Police fired tear gas, and then retreated. With that barricade removed, protesters moved closer to the palace’s walls, with police apparently choosing not to try and push the crowds back.

Soon afterwards, police abandoned the rest of the barricades, allowing the crowds to surge ahead to the walls of the palace complex. But there were no attempts to storm the palace, guarded inside by the army’s Republican Guard.

The brief outburst of violence left 18 people injured, none seriously, according to the official MENA news agency.

Protesters also commandeered two police vans, climbing atop the armored vehicles to jubilantly wave Egypt’s red, white and black flag and chant against Morsi. Nearly two hours into the demonstration, protesters were mingling freely with the black-clad riot police, with many waving the flag and chanting against Morsi.

There were as many as 100,000 protesters in the immediate vicinity of the palace and the wide thoroughfare that runs by it. Thousands more filled side streets leading off the area.

Many in the crowd were chanting “erhal, erhal,” Arabic for “leave, leave” and “the people want to topple the regime” – two well-known chants from the 2010-2011 Arab Spring revolts that toppled Mubarak and other Middle Eastern and North African rulers.

In Alexandria, some 10,000 opponents of Morsi gathered in the center of the country’s second largest metropolis. They chanted slogans against the leader and his Islamic fundamentalist group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

The protests were dubbed “The Last Warning” by organizers amid rising anger over the draft charter and decrees issued by Morsi giving himself sweeping powers that placed him above judicial oversight. Morsi called for a nationwide referendum on the draft constitution on Dec. 15.

It is Egypt’s worst political crisis since the ouster nearly two years ago of authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak. The country has been divided into two camps: Morsi and the Brotherhood, as well as ultraconservative Salafi Islamists, versus youth groups, liberal parties and large sectors of the public.

Tens of thousands also gathered in Cairo’s downtown Tahrir Square, miles away from the palace, to join several hundred who have been camping out there for nearly two weeks. There were other large protests around the city separate from the one outside the palace.

In this image made from a live broadcast on Egyptian State Television, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi speaks to the constituent assembly in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Morsi spoke as more than 100,000 Islamists waved Egyptian flags and hoisted portraits of Morsi in rallies nationwide Saturday to support his efforts to rush through a new draft constitution despite widespread opposition by secular activists and some in the judiciary. (Credit: AP)

Egyptian protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a rally in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. (Credit: AP)

Egyptian riot police stand guard behind barbed wire while protesters chant anti Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a demonstration in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. (Credit: AP)

Protesters chant slogans and wave national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Hundreds of black-clad riot police deployed around the Itihadiya palace in Cairo’s district of Heliopolis. Barbed wire was also placed outside the complex, and side roads leading to it were blocked to traffic. Protesters gathered at Cairo’s Tahrir square and several other points not far from the palace to march to the presidential complex. (Credit: AP)

Smaller protests by Morsi opponents were staged in the southern city of Assiut, an Islamists stronghold, and the industrial city of Mahallah north of Cairo as well as Suez.

“Freedom or we die,” chanted a crowd of several hundred outside a mosque in the Abbasiyah district. “Mohammed Morsi illegitimate! Brotherhood! Illegitimate!” they also yelled.

“This is the last warning before we lay siege to the presidential palace,” said Mahmoud Hashim, a 21-year-old student from the city of Suez on the Red Sea. “We want the presidential decrees cancelled.”

Several hundred protesters also gathered outside Morsi’s residence in an upscale suburb.

“Down with the sons of dogs. We are the power and we are the people,” they chanted.

Morsi, who narrowly won the presidency in a June election, appeared to be in no mood for compromise.

A statement by his office said he met Tuesday with his deputy, prime minister and several top Cabinet members to discuss preparations for the referendum. The statement suggested business as usual at the palace, despite the mass rally outside its doors.

The Islamists responded to the mass opposition protests last week by sending hundreds of thousands of supporters into Cairo’s twin city of Giza on Saturday and across much of the country. Thousands also besieged Egypt’s highest court, the Supreme Constitutional Court.

The court had been widely expected Sunday to declare the constitutional assembly that passed the draft charter on Friday illegitimate and to disband parliament’s upper house, the Shura Council. Instead, the judges went on strike after they found their building under siege by protesters.

The opposition has yet to say whether it intends to focus its energy on rallying support for a boycott of the Dec. 15 vote or defeating the draft with a “no” vote.

“We haven’t made any decisions yet, but I’m leaning against a boycott and toward voting `no,’” said Hossam al-Hamalawy of the Socialist Revolutionaries, a key group behind last year’s uprising. “We want a (new) constituent assembly that represents the people and we keep up the pressure on Morsi.”

The judges’ strikes were part of a planned campaign of civil disobedience that could spread to other industries.

On Tuesday, at least eight influential dailies, a mix of opposition party mouthpieces and independent publications, suspended publication for a day to protest against what many journalists see as the restrictions on freedom of expression in the draft constitution.

The country’s privately owned TV networks planned their own protest Wednesday, when they will blacken their screens all day.

Morsi’s Nov. 22 decrees placed him above oversight of any kind, including the courts. The constitutional panel then rushed through a draft constitution without the participation of representatives of liberals and Christians. Only four women, all Islamists, attended the marathon, all-night session.

The charter has been criticized for not protecting the rights of women and minority groups, and many journalists see it as restricting freedom of expression. Critics also say it empowers Islamic religious clerics by giving them a say over legislation, while some articles were seen as tailored to get rid of Islamists’ enemies.

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Comments (107)

The-Monk
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:34pm
I wonder if he called BO for help……

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- rickc34
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:44pm
  I don’t think BO will pick up the phone. A storm is coming to the USA.
  
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- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:08pm
  Communist obama would turn his back on his own mother if it served his interest.
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:20pm
  He maybe playing golf. Save yourself a quarter Morsi. Just run.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:36pm
  Oops, forgot to add the (end sarcasm).
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:44pm
  I don’t feel sorry for these people because theye couldn’ get enough of him 7 months agoWhen you crawl in bed wih the devil you get poked by a horn. I’ts like all the women that voted in Obama. When he becomes president for life nd puts in Sheria law I won’t feel sorry foe the women that have to wear a full Burka and they complain to silent ears. I won’t feel sorry for all those laid off reporters when Obama makes a state TV, News Paper and state controlled internet. My fater saidthat.”whe you sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas.
  
  Report this comment
- Alina.D
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:24pm
  Ezekiel 29.. God knew this would happen.
  
  Report this comment
- longknifed
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:38pm
  yep obama did it. even though romney agreed with it too.
  
  Report this comment
- HumbleMan
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:05pm
  @Monk … no need, those who have a clue understand.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:01pm
  Hi HumbleMan,
  
  Thanks. : )
  
  Report this comment
- December5
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 6:00am
  You think we can get Obama to flee the White House, if he actually ever showed up to work. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
schmoozer
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:30pm
If they can chase their president out of the palace,what will it take to chase our administration out as well? 10,000, a 100,000, maybe a 1,000,000?
What if a well-coordinated, peaceful non-violent protest was held in front of the White House, demanding that this administration clean up its act? We could literally shut down DC for as long as it takes to get our point across. (Or whatever golf course he happened to be at.)
In well-coordinated I mean food and sanitation, as well as emergency medical support. We keep it clean and polite at all times, and no weapons. We give no reason for the MSM to take their cheap potshots as us.

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- Veteran Patriot
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:42pm
  They didn’t chase him out, he just went home when his day was finished. He is not afraid of the populace because it is just a matter of time before his boot comes down on them. He’s a dictator; what does he care for a pile of bodies in the streets. If he can’t rule by public consensus, then public fear will do.
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:24pm
  Ugh they have chem I mean chicago weapons here. Just sayin, they play dirty. Morsi will be mad too. **** is hitting the fan.
  
  Report this comment
Beachmastermax
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:30pm
“MEET THE NEW BOSS!!! SAME AS THE OLD BOSS!!!!” DA DA DA DA

No population (81%) that thinks you should be executed for leaving a religion is capable of freedom. They just need to pick out their most benevolent dictator. If you are a woman, I don’t think that is Morsi.

Military!!!!! Where are ya when we need ya!!!!

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- floridasharkman
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:43pm
  Obama put the muzlimbrotherhood in charge of Egypt with morsi as president so if Obama can bring sharia law to Egypt who will stop him here
  
  Report this comment
- Beachmastermax
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:34pm
  Only the women…if they ever stop shopping.
  
  Report this comment
geewhiz1962
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:27pm
Maybe these peace loving people will find Morsi and drag his body through the streets……must be Arab winter.

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- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:34pm
  Did I just read that….
  
  Obama fled the White house as protestors filled the streets of DC!
  
  Naw, I must have been having a Biden moment.
  
  Report this comment
- Silversmith
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:03pm
  I think it may have to come to that Johnpaul!
  
  Silversmith
  
  Report this comment
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:28pm
  I’ve told one and all that I’m tired of this death by a thousand paper cuts!
  
  In my old oilfield poker game days, the command was “Throw down, bud, show me what you got!”
  
  That’s how I feel. Something’s got to give soon.
  
  On the federal, state and local level, every time you turn around some s.o..b. is trying to put a screwin’ on the taxpayer or “Makers.” We have too many “Takers.”
  
  I read today that a judge granted a subpoena for our sewer Rat-in-Chief’s records from Occidental College. We may catch a break here yet!
  
  Now that would be a hoot if he applied for one of those grants available only to foreign-born students. I’d break out the good single malt and party like it’s 1972!
  
  Report this comment
gingerbread
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:24pm
Just what the hell did anyone expect from a would be dictator?Did you really expect him to ace down the angry mob? Here’s the first and ast rule of any dictator, GET OUT ANY WAY YOU CAN. He’s not about to put his scrawny hide in danger. It’s a provn fact that most dictator are basically COWARDS at heart.

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Magyar
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:18pm
Who saw this coming?

They merely exchanged a benevolent dictator for a malevolent one– Now they will live with the consequence of their foolish decision.

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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:33pm
  Barely a peep out of the obama propaganda machine know as the lame stream media, but you can bet your sweet bippy they have the Royal Family & a pregnant Kate Middleton plastered all over the networks.
  
  BTW what is the Royal’s real last name? Prince whatever their names are. I hear they are actually German.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:40pm
  BTW this Egypt thing is obama’s baby ^ its turning into a big mess. Coming soon to USA,
  
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gyro
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:18pm
you watch they will blame it on non muslims === they will take the hit and be first to die
Or blame bush that works to

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Exidor
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:14pm
I guess Morsi really is a back-door man…….

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mbean
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:12pm
Meanwhile Obama has a game of golf somewhere……

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- FISH_BONE
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:21pm
  Will BHO a.k.a. POS give MORSI the order to “Stand Down”?
  
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Veteran Patriot
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:05pm
The next thing we hear will be about bullets into the crowds of protesters. This sort of thing never ends well for the populace.
The so-called Arab Spring is progressing just as planned. A few more months and the entire middle east will be under the Muslim Brotherhood and the obama-supported caliphate will be complete.
Dang! We didn’t see this coming….!

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- gyro
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:12pm
  well said
  
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- MDECKER
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:16pm
  Let-er-Rip!
  
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msconstrue
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:05pm
be careful what you wish for, as you surely may get it!!!!

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:04pm
I wonder when the military will decide enough is really enough and take over?

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M40-A1
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:04pm
What a shame they didn’t hang Obama’s gay lover-boy Morsi.

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LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:03pm
.
Hey Egypt, how’s that Muslim Brotherhood leadership working out for you?

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:02pm
Obama and his fellow tyrants (errrr….I mean czars) and the leftist press are deathly afraid the American people will learn from the Egyptian movement and actually storm the white House and Congress. They could all be fleeing right now. The problem is that their army hasn’t killed their people wholesale yet. Our leaders would have already ordered us shot.

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Gourdy
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:02pm
Yes! This makes me quite happy. They’ve been under the rule of dictators so long, that they are getting an education in democracy — meaning it takes a lot of work beyond initial protests.

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eaglesview
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:59pm
Where’s Oblamer going to flee to when we march on The White House ?
Cockroach !

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- LeadNotFollow
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:07pm
  .
  Obama will flee to his multimillion dollar home he just purchased in Hawaii or to his buddies Brad and Angelina’s home in France, that is part under ground.
  
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JohnGalt
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:59pm
Got to love it! these guys are willing to die for their freedom, maybe we can learn something from them.

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:09pm
  Maybe, but doubtful as most over here complain about the fridge being too far from the tv.
  
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- coolidge
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:11pm
  I notice a lot of women in these pictures. Maybe Morsi should through birth control pills and condoms to them to gain their support. It worked pretty well for our Democrats.
  
  Report this comment
- gyro
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:13pm
  and die they will
  but your corect
  
  Report this comment
Chromo200
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:57pm
There will civil war in Egypt within a year and our president will side with Morsi. To get the world on his side , Morsi will start a war with Israel. Watch the Hamas and Hezbulla start with the rockets again.

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ResistSocialism
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:57pm
Yea good luck with that. Next time don’t vote for the Islamic radical.

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- FISH_BONE
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:11pm
  Are you talking to the citizens of Egypt or USA?
  
  Report this comment
- crueltiming
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 7:55pm
  fish_bone unanimously declared tonight’s winner
  
  Report this comment
Landon410
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:55pm
buyers remorse egypt? yea….. we know that feeling

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- PaxInVeritate
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:11pm
  I didn’t buy….
  
  Report this comment
- PaxInVeritate
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:20pm
  I know a Landon in Baker City, Ore. Would that happen to be you?
  
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searcher619
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:54pm
Talk about buyer’s remorse…

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:53pm
Sounds like we have a true democratic movement on the rising in Egypt, which is why the MSM and the White House are utterly silent on the matter.

What matters now is on which side the Egyptian Army decides to support in the matter; that will be the final weight to the scale for determining the victor in the end.

Understand clearly, even if Morsi falls, the vacuum left open will enable an opportunity for other radicals to arise, and no matter what, expect Obama to place the blame for this solely at the feet of Israel.

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- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:59pm
  …or Bush.
  
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- JohnGalt
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:00pm
  Those people are not going to be taken advantage of, it would seem.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:13pm
  Right SNOW, just like when our time comes, hopefully our own military will side with us. Just give us the Marine Corps and I don’t see any issues with getting the prog commies out. By land by air by sea!
  
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- PoorKnightofKingSolomon
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:15pm
  Agree.Seems the Law enforcement has taken their side.We as a people need too support their cause as well as taking their lead and fighting for our own.They’ve realized they were taken advantage of and were not getting what they voted for nor the freedoms that they wanted .Maybe it’s time we look at things and realize where we’re headeda
  
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- gyro
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:16pm
  Snowleopard you got it right this time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:35pm
  @Mercenary: Why do you think Obama wants to crush the marines so badly.
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:37pm
  @Tsunami: forgot about that.
  
  @Gyro: once in awhile I get something right.
  
  And yes we need to support them, something Obama will never do.
  
  Report this comment
tradcatholicgirl
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:51pm
God Bless and Godspeed protesters.

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biohazard23
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:49pm
Sooooo, how’s that Arab Spring thingy working out for ya? Where are all the talking heads and other assorted idiots in this country who said that this was a good thing? Wait….. (crickets)… We can’t hear you, Bill Kristol! http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/arabs-spring-and-ours_556139.html

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:54pm
  Exactly, the silence from the left, the MSM and the admin is deafening. All of them support the radicals and terrorists, and do not want to see true democracy arise; expect for Obama to begin blaming this matter on Israel in due order.
  
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