(Others) – The rapid finalization of Egypt's new constitution by Islamists did little to dampen protests in Cairo as hundreds of thousands occupied Tahrir Square on Friday in a trademark show of strength. An Islamist-led Constituent Assembly, which was given two more months by President Mohamed Morsi to finish its work, surprisingly approved the final draft charter early Friday following a marathon session that lasted more than 15 hours. According to analysts, the move was intended to placate activists and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators angry at what they see as Morsi's attempt to impose autocratic rule. The 61-year-old head of state, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, stirred controversy last week after issuing a decree that shields his decisions from legal challenge and protects the Constituent Assembly and upper house of parliament from dissolution. Once a draft constitution is approved via popular referendum, Morsi's decree will be cancelled and his legislative powers transferred to a newly-elected parliament. However, protests showed no sign of abating. Tahrir Square demonstrators, who are pushing for a 'no' vote in the upcoming referendum, believe the draft constitution neither fulfils the aspirations of Egyptians nor achieves revolutionary objectives. The Islamists, who perhaps thought finalizing the constitution earlier than expected would quell popular anger – since it means Morsi would soon relinquish the powers he just assumed – ended up only adding fuel to the fire. "Egypt will not be forced to choose between a dictatorial declaration and a rushed constitution written by a fraction of Egyptian society," former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi, a staunch opponent of the Brotherhood, said after joining protesters in Cairo's iconic square. "Egypt will not bow down to the will of a few," he added to enthusiastic cheers. The opposition has mulled escalating their protests, with some calling for a civil disobedience campaign starting midweek. Eleven independent newspapers have decided not to go to press on Tuesday in protest against Morsi's decree, while several privately-owned satellite television channels said they would halt broadcasts on Wednesday. The majority of Egypt's judges have also continued their strike, casting doubt over the fate of the upcoming referendum on the constitution, which they had been set to monitor. Several other cities witnessed anti-Morsi protests on Friday, including Alexandria, Mahalla and Assiut. Clashes to erupt since Morsi announced his decree have so far left two people dead: a Tahrir protester and a Muslim Brotherhood member in the Nile Delta city of Damanhour. "The president and his Constituent Assembly are currently staging a coup against democracy. Regime legitimacy is fast eroding," Mohamed El-Baradei, former Nobel Prize laureate and the leading opposition figure declared via Twitter on Friday.
