New Rifts In Egypt Over President's Power Grab

13:47

November 26, 2012

Egyptian protesters clash with security forces, not pictured, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday. (Ahmed Gomaa/AP)

Egypt's justice minister Ahmed Mekki has said an agreement is "imminent" from talks between President Mohammed Morsi and the country's Supreme Judiciary Council.

Those talks come after four days of violent nationwide protests over president Morsi's decree granting himself sweeping new powers.

The president has said the new powers are needed to protect Egypt's transition to democracy. Democracy activists say it's a power grab taking Egypt backwards into dictatorship.

The protests are taking a toll on the Egyptian economy, with the country's stock markets down sharply as foreign investors flee.

Guests:

Christopher Lydon, host of Radio Open Source, who is currently in Cairo.
Farouk El-Baz, Boston University professor and director of BU's Center for Remote Sensing. He was science adviser to the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

This segment aired on November 26, 2012.