Egypt prosecutor says was threatened to make him quit

CAIRO, Oct 12, 2012 (AFP)

Egypt’s state prosecutor said Friday he received direct and indirect threats from a senior judge and an ally of President Mohamed Morsi who told him he could be assaulted if he did not heed a decree to resign.

Abdel Meguid Mahmud said in a statement that he defied Morsi’s decree on Thursday relieving him of his post and appointing him ambassador to the Vatican because the president had no right to remove a prosecutor.

Mahmud said he received “direct and indirect threats” from Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki and from Hossam el-Ghariani, head of the constituent assembly, telling him he should resign after the acquittals of Hosni Mubarak-era officials in a trial this week.

He said both officials, who told him they were calling from the presidency, warned him about Friday’s protests, which have degenerated into violent clashes in Cairo between supporters and opponents of Morsi.

When he pressed Ghariani for specifics on the danger posed to him, he was told: “Protesters could gather at your office and assault you,” Mahmud said in an unprecedented statement revealing the extent of his rift with Morsi.