Egypt speeds new constitution amid protests

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi plans to address the nation Thursday, as a divisive panel boycotted by Christians and liberals was set to vote on a draft constitution.

Morsi extended the deadline to write the constitution from December to February, but the assembly’s speaker said the extra time was unnecessary.

Critics say the Islamist-dominated panel’s move to finish the constitution quickly could worsen the political turmoil that has gripped the nation since Morsi issued a November 22 decree barring the judiciary from challenging his decisions.

Egyptians continued protests in Tahrir Square against President Morsi for a seventh straight day, accusing him of acting like a dictator.

Clashes erupting on streets near Tahrir Square spilled into the square, with canisters falling into the crowd forcing protesters to run and sending clouds of tear gas over the tents housing the demonstrators.

Supporters of the president have vowed to demonstrate on Saturday.

Egypt’s highest courts went on strike Wednesday in protest of the president’s decrees, vowing to stop their work until the a constitutional court rules on Morsi’s order granting himself immunity from judicial review.

The constitutional court has accused Morsi of an unjustified attack on its independence. In a statement released Wednesday, the court rejected charges made by Morsi that it is working to bring down his government.

The president said his decree was designed to protect state institutions.

Morsi later promised the Supreme Judicial Council that he will restrict his newly self-granted powers to