Morsi agrees to keep prosecutor-general

during a meeting earlier in the day for keeping prosecutor-general Abdel-Maguid Mahmoud in office.
Ali added that Mahmoud himself expressed his desire to keep his job and that he described as confusing Morsi’s earlier order to sack him.
The spokesman said Morsi heeded the petition and the prosecutor-general’s wish and decided to agree that Mahmoud stays as the country’s top prosecutor.
After the meeting with the president, hundreds of judges came out to congratulate Mahmoud at his office.
Both sides described the incident as a “misunderstanding”. Ahmed el-Zind, head of the Judges Club and a supporter of Mahmoud, said a “face saving” statement will be issued from the two sides.
A political and legal crisis erupted last week after Morsi issued a decree to remove Mahmoud from the post of prosecutor-general and appoint him as the ambassador to Vatican. The decision came one day after the Criminal Court decided to acquit all defendants accused of attacking peaceful protesters at Cairo’s Tahrir Square in what is known as “camel battle” during the anti-government protests last year.
The president’s order was in an apparent attempt to appease the public anger toward the acquittal of 24 former senior officials accused of attacking protesters in last year’s unrest.
However, Mahmoud asserted on Thursday that he did not submit his resignation, adding that he is still in office and the judges criticised Morsi for exceeding his powers and infringed upon the judicial authority.
Egyptian laws grant the prosecutor-general immunity against removal from office and stipulate that he leaves office out of his own accord or when he reaches retirement age.
Earlier on yesterday, more than 1 000 Egyptian judges and members of the prosecutor’s office expressed support to Mahmoud’s decision not to resign in accordance with Morsi’s order, official news agency Mena reported.
Head of the Judges Club Ahmed el-Zend was among the protesters who rallied outside the Supreme Judicial Court to back the prosecutor’s decision.
Speaking to his supporters at the Supreme Judicial Court, Mahmoud said Morsi’s attempt to replace him was not within his presidential mandate as it violated judicial independence and the constitutional principle of the separation of authorities.
He also assured that he is capable of ending the public anger that broke out after the acquittal of the 24 ex-officials. — Xinhua.