Egypt protesters march on palace

Thousands of protesters marched on the palace of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo on Friday in a fresh bid to reverse a decree they regard as giving the Islamist leader dictatorial powers. Crowds streamed along streets from at least three directions waving flags and urging bystanders to join them. "The people want the fall of the regime," they chanted, using the rally cry of the popular uprising that ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak early last year. Hundreds of protesters were gathered near the palace, with their numbers swelling. The marches began peacefully, with no sign of the violence between Morsi supporters and opponents that marred previous rallies in the same spot this week. But soldiers and riot police were deployed in strength outside the palace to prevent the protesters approaching the building. Dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles and barricades of barbed wire ringed the compound. On Wednesday, seven people were killed and more than 600 injured in clashes between Islamist supporters of Morsi and members of the largely secular and liberal opposition. After the army cleared the square in front of the palace, Morsi gave a televised speech denouncing the violence, but blaming it on "thugs" mobilised by remnants of the Mubarak regime. Morsi defended the decree he issued two weeks ago placing his decisions beyond judicial review, and said a December 15 referendum on a controversial new constitution drafted by an Islamist-dominated panel would go ahead. An offer to hold talks with the opposition on Saturday was rejected by the National Salvation Front coalition ranged against him. In a statement, the Front accused the president of "dividing Egyptians between his 'supporters of legitimacy'... and his opponents, whom he calls 'thugs'." The Front called on protesters to escalate their demonstrations against Morsi and march after the main weekly Muslim prayers at midday on Friday.