Policy

Morsi Grants Army Power to Arrest

Referendum on the draft constitution still scheduled to go ahead on Saturday

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Egypt's President Morsi has ordered the military to maintain security and protect state institutions in the run-up to a referendum on the constitution.

The army has also been given the power of arrest.

Mr Morsi has tried to calm public anger by annulling a decree giving him huge powers, but rejected a call to scrap the 15 December vote on a new constitution.

Opposition leaders rejected the move and called for protests on Tuesday.