Berlin observing Egypt ‘with some concern’: government

BERLIN, Nov 26, 2012 (AFP) –

A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that Germany was watching developments in Egypt “with some concern” after President Mohamed Morsi assumed sweeping new powers.

“The federal government is observing the recent developments and decisions in Egypt attentively and also with some concern,” Steffen Seibert told reporters at a regular government news briefing.

“The separation of powers is a fundamental principle of any democratic constitution,” he noted.

Morsi’s constitutional declaration allowing him to issue decisions and laws unchallenged on a temporary basis has triggered a wave of protests across the country and set him on course for a showdown with Egypt’s judges.

The declaration stating that Morsi can issue “any decision or measure to protect the revolution,” and that such actions would be final and not subject to appeal, has sparked charges that he is taking on dictatorial powers.

“The Egyptian revolution sparked great hopes and great expectations. We really hope that it will now lead to a democratically ordered state,” Seibert said.

“This can only be a state that holds firm to such fundamental principles, and President Morsi holds a great responsibility for this,” the spokesman added.