Al-Ahram has just published (Sunday 12/9/12)  in English translation the full text of a new constitutional declaration that revokes the controversial constitutional declaration issued by Egyptian President Morsi on November 22, 2012. The earlier decree granting Morsi sweeping executive powers, which he insisted was necessary to move Egypt's democratic transition forward, did in fact break the deadlock over the draft constitution. According to Mohammad Salim al-Awa, spokesman for a national political dialogue  held Saturday (albeit, boycotted by the major Morsi government opposition groups), maintained the most contentious article from the prior 11/22/12 edict, which placed all of Morsi's actions beyond judicial review, has been abrogated. But the referendum on Egypt's newly minted, increasingly Sharia-compliant draft constitution, will proceed apace, under the following conditions, outlined in item 3 of the new declaration: 3- If the people vote against the draft...(Read Full Post)