Photo: Xinhua/STR

An Egyptian protester hurls stones at riot police. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution.

Cairo — Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has defended a decree giving him sweeping new powers, saying it is "temporary" and not intended to concentrate power in his hands.

"This declaration is deemed necessary in order to hold accountable those responsible for the corruption, as well as other crimes, during the previous regime and the transitional period," the statement said.

According to RT, Morsi met with his remaining advisors and assistants earlier Sunday, to discuss the fallout from the controversial decree. On Sunday Ahmed Fahmi, Chairman of the Islamist-dominated Shura Council and a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, made a surprising statement condemning the decree.

Thursday's decree led to several days of protests and a big fall in the Egyptian stock market.